Parenting

Parenthood is considered the one irreversible role that someone can take on. Even as an adoptive parent, this role is irreversible. By embracing the role of parenting a child, one is surpassing any adoptive barriers inhibiting bonding.

Good adoptive parenting can mean being sensitive to positive and negative language when referring to adoption terms. For example, saying a birth mother "gave a child up" for adoption has a slightly more negative tonality than saying a birth mother chose to "place a child for adoption." Other irregular parenting specific to adoptive families is transracial or multicultural families. If the adoptee is of Native American origin, for example, the adoptive parent may choose to educate the adoptee about his or her roots. If a child is learning English as a second language, an adoptive parent may need to find a tutor that speaks the child's native language.

Creating traditions to help bond with an adoptive child is another useful parenting tool, especially for older child adoptees.

Adoptive parenting also relies on the openness of speaking about adoption. In cases where an adoptee has an illness, adoption can be hard for parents to not blame the birth mother for the disease or developmental problem instead of choosing to accept any health problems. Health concerns are not easy for biological parents and are, of course, difficult for adoptive families as well.

All parenting is hard work and adoptive parenting is no exception, although many of your friends may not be able to shed light on certain parenting decisions exclusive to adoption. Don't forget that adoptive parents with questions can browse parenting forums for advice on those issues, as they're full of support especially for parents.