5 Indicators That You Are Ready to Adopt a Child

Adoption may sound like a scary thing, but it doesn’t have to be. You may feel intimidated as first-time parents, but to be honest, anyone who has ever been a parent was intimidated at first. It’s fairly normal to feel that way. Oftentimes, it is the fear of being inadequate and the feeling of not being prepared that scares them.

Before following the signs that you’d be a great parent via adoption, let’s take a detour.

Now, you may be wondering why people actually adopt when they can have children on their own. Well, there are many reasons for it.

Reasons For Adoption

1. You or your spouse are unable to conceive: Infertility is something you can’t control, if for any reason either one of you or both are infertile, but you still want to experience the world of parenthood, then adoption is a good option.
   
2. Past trauma: Miscarriage often traumatizes people, rendering them unwilling to try again to conceive on their own.
   
3. You want to help: Many orphans spend their early lives without the love and presence of parents. This is truly saddening. Many people, even those who are already parents, want to reach out and help these children by adopting them and giving them a home and more importantly, a family.
4. Not wanting to procreate: Many people don’t want to bring another life into this world to fulfill their desire for parenthood; instead, they opt for adoption.
5. Being in a relationship with a single parent. Step-parent adoption in Georgia, Texas, California, or any part of the US is not uncommon. In fact, it is what many families have opted for, in order to give their children the right kind of support. 

Regardless of why you want to adopt, you should first make sure you are ready. This readiness is not simply checking points off a list; it is much more than that. 

Here are five indicators that mean you are ready to be a good adoptive parent:

• Accepting the Inability to Conceive 

If you or your spouse have any medical condition that doesn’t allow you to conceive, the first step is to accept and acknowledge it. This is a crucial step for those who are unable to conceive.

Accepting that you are unable to conceive or sometimes just hearing that you are unable often destroys people. Reality is harsh and unforgiving, so accepting things for what and how they are is important and necessary, both for you and your spouse.

Once you feel that you have grieved enough and come to terms with the circumstances, you can then decide whether you want to adopt.

• Able to Love a Child That’s Not Biologically Related to You

Unconditional love is the best kind. As biological beings, we inherently and by default tend to care for and look after those of our own blood. But some people cannot allow themselves to love and care for someone that is not biologically related to them. That is perfectly normal and not a bad thing.

That being said, you shouldn’t adopt if you find the concept of loving a child that is not yours difficult. You should adopt if and only if you feel confident and are sure that you will be able to love the adopted child unconditionally and in no way any less than you would love your biological child.

• You Have Financial Stability

Raising a child can be very expensive. Whether you are adopting or having your own, raising children is expensive and always has been which requires financial stability. You are obliged to provide the best possible life you can for the child. It is your duty as a parent. 

Parents become parents to fulfill their own needs. Children don’t necessarily owe you anything, but you owe them the world because of that. Starting from basic human necessities like food and shelter to education and healthcare, you must be able to afford it all for your future child(ren).

• You Are Aware of the Adoption Procedure

Adopting a child is in no way as easy as adopting a pet. You can’t simply go to an orphanage and adopt any child that you like. The process of adoption is long and tedious. The application process up to bringing the child home requires a ton of paperwork, interviews, and patience.

And still, that may not be enough. You will be assessed, and it will be judged whether you can take care of the child or not. After filling up paperwork and countless interviews and even after bringing the child home, the orphanage and Child Protective Services may deem you unfit to take care of the child properly and take them away.

At that point, you may even lose custody of the adopted child. So be careful and aware of all the rules and requirements of the adoption procedure and prepare yourself to face those challenges head-on!

• You Have Done Your Homework

Adopting and parenting aren’t easy. There is no proper or perfect method of parenting. No matter how many books on parenting you may read, it will not be the same when you face those situations in real life.

Every child is different. They will have unique personalities, habits, traits, etc. that will not always match traditional parenting methods. Realistically speaking, parenting is a dynamic process. There are no cookie-cutter methods for parenting. You are bound to make mistakes, and you must be willing to change and adapt to your child’s needs, especially if you are a new parent. As, parents you want to give your child the best start in life, and it can be overwhelming. 

Even a little bit of empathy goes a long way!

To Conclude

If you have considered the above-mentioned points, then you are on the right track to becoming a great parent via adoption, my friend. That doesn’t mean you don’t need to worry about other factors as well. But ensuring the above-mentioned points means you are on the right path.

So keep working hard and do your research before applying for the adoption process. Remember to talk to someone who has been through it to get advice. It is never a bad idea to ask and seek help!