| One of the most selfless acts that an adult can do is | | | | behavioral problems. |
| adopting a child. If you are considering adoption, it's | | | | Many single adults and couples wishing to raise |
| important that you fully understand all of the legal | | | | families do so because they are unable to conceive |
| and emotional implications. It can be a lengthy and | | | | children. To these caring individuals, adoption is a way |
| sometimes complicated process, but the benefits for | | | | to fill the void and complete their families. They know |
| both you and the child will be priceless. | | | | that children will enrich their lives, and they realize all |
| Adoption is a process in which a child is welcomed as | | | | that they can offer to a child in need. |
| a new member of the family. In this process, the | | | | Sometimes, adoptive parents may already have |
| adoptive parents are entitled to the same rights, and | | | | biological children, and wish to enrich their families by |
| assume the same responsibilities of biological parents. | | | | adopting a child. Some thirty percent of adoptive |
| By taking on legal custody of the child, the new | | | | parents do, in fact, have biological children of their |
| parent or parents also become fully responsible for | | | | own. The numbers of loving and caring single |
| the adoptive child's social, physical and emotional | | | | adoptive parents are also growing. |
| well-being. | | | | Children can be without parents for many reasons. |
| Countries around the world recognized child adoption | | | | War and famine create tragic situations that leave |
| as a legal practice, and many nations welcome legal | | | | countless children as orphans. Others are placed for |
| adoption as a means to provide permanent care and | | | | adoption by parents who realize that they are not |
| security for orphaned or abandoned children. Over | | | | able to provide the degree of care the child needs |
| the past decades, this universal aim has changed the | | | | and deserves. While some view this as a selfish, |
| face of adoption. Years ago, babies were primarily | | | | cowardly act, parents who place their children for |
| considered for adoption. Today, the concept of child | | | | adoption are often torn by their decision. Whatever |
| adoption has flourished to include children of all ages. | | | | the reason, adoptive children need to enjoy the love |
| Children are now readily adopted, regardless of age. | | | | of kind, caring parents. |
| The most obvious reason for adoption is the simple | | | | There are also young parents who realize that they |
| fact that, as a human being, every child has the right | | | | can't provide the necessary support, and choose to |
| to safety, health, security and happiness. Children | | | | place their children for adoption. Financial difficulties will |
| must be able to plant roots and feel loved and | | | | often play a role in this decision. Single parents may |
| accepted as important family members. Everyone | | | | believe that they can't provide basic support, provide |
| needs to feel that there is a family waiting for us, | | | | an education or otherwise help the child to grow to |
| wanting to share their lives and care for us. Children | | | | become a responsible, capable individual. |
| feel this need and have this very basic right. | | | | While the rates of legal adoption have reached an |
| Loving and being loved is the basis of every child's | | | | all-time high throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, |
| self worth. If these feelings are missing, children are | | | | and North America, there are many more children |
| unable to determine their place in society and their | | | | waiting and hoping for adoptive parents who are |
| relevance to others. They cannot easily integrate into | | | | willing to open their hearts to provide the care and |
| their communities. The lack of parental attention and | | | | security they desperately need. |
| appreciation may ultimately lead to social and | | | | |