| Choosing adoption is a big step. I would like to | | | | to make. |
| discuss a variety of topics that will help with making | | | | Choosing the age of the child |
| the decision to adopt an informed, thought provoking | | | | Now this is a tough one. On average more infant girls |
| one. The goal of this article is to provide information | | | | are adopted than any other age/gender combination. |
| and resources that will help in choosing adoption. The | | | | But looking into the various challenge of each age |
| result, I hope, is to help any child be placed in a home | | | | group, may prove to be helpful. This is where you |
| where they are wanted, appreciated and loved and | | | | choose how the dynamics of your life will change. |
| to provide any caring adult, tools they can utilize to | | | | Really give this decision consideration when choosing |
| make choosing adoption a reality. | | | | to adopt. |
| Let's begin by asking yourself, "Am I ready?". This is | | | | Responsibilities and what to expect by age group: |
| a logical place to start because by choosing adoption | | | | Infant: very dependent, may keep you up at night, |
| you are choosing to change the dynamics of your life | | | | feeding, changing diapers, bathing, washing, wiping, |
| forever. This of course is said not to scare you away | | | | burping, parent/child play time, reading time |
| from the idea of adoption but to merely point out | | | | 1-3 yrs: Crawling, walking, teeth brushing, beginning to |
| the realization of this fact. Once you have done your | | | | talk, bathing, exploring, breaking household items, |
| homework and a lot of soul searching and are still | | | | parent/child play time, reading time, lots of energy |
| choosing to adopt, you may have come across the | | | | 3-5 yrs: Learning ABC's, asks why a lot, exploring, |
| most rewarding experience of your lifetime. | | | | human sponges, parent/child play time, bathing, child |
| With choosing adoption comes many decisions | | | | making friends, child brushing their own teeth with |
| immediately following: What adoption agency will I | | | | assistance from parents, reading time (both child and |
| use? Do I want to adopt a boy or a girl? When I | | | | parent read) |
| adopt, will the child be an infant? 5 yrs. old? or a | | | | 6-8 yrs: Learning, attention span improving, lots of |
| teenager? These are all important questions that | | | | energy, children should be brushing their own teeth, |
| need to be addressed. | | | | parent child play time, wanting to do more on their |
| Adoption Agencies | | | | own, reading time, teach them how to do chores |
| One must be very careful when choosing adoption | | | | that are age appropriate, may want to begin |
| agencies for obvious reasons. The search for one on | | | | organized sports or activities |
| the internet, you may find is a challenge. I have done | | | | 9-11 yrs: Study habits, learning how to do for |
| some homework and have found a couple of links | | | | themselves, increased chore responsibility, becoming |
| that may be helpful: - In the topics menu under | | | | more independent, communicating regularly |
| adopting click "guide" - Great for resources | | | | 12-14 yrs: Preteen and becoming a teenager, |
| Do I want a boy or do I want a girl? | | | | hormones, relationships, friendships, study habits, |
| My wife and I have raised 3 boys and 2 girls and I | | | | communicating regularly, extra curricular activities, |
| must say that it is a different experience one from | | | | spreading their wings. |
| the other, but rewarding all the same. This is a choice | | | | 15-18 yrs: On the road to becoming an adult, |
| that must be thought out and discussed when | | | | education, future planning, relationships, having the |
| choosing to adopt. Much has been written regarding | | | | "birds and bees" talk, communicating regularly |
| adopting a boy vs. a girl and I would encourage you | | | | Of course this list merely scratches the surface but |
| to visit the websites listed above as a source of | | | | all in all I think you get the idea. Choosing adoption to |
| information. Ultimately, this is a matter of preference. | | | | begin or extend your family can be very rewarding. It |
| The dedication and commitment to love another | | | | is a big decision and through research and |
| human being far out weighs this choice you must | | | | communication, you may find that choosing adoption |
| make. | | | | is the right fit for you and your family. |
| Through communication with your spouse, a decision | | | | Remember the best way, when choosing anything, is |
| should be reached. Just remember, not everyone | | | | to be informed. |
| gets to choose, so this should be a pleasant choice | | | | |