Is Adoption For Me?
“What do you know about adoption?”
When asked this question, many women respond quickly, saying, “I cannot carry my baby for 9 months and then give them away,” or “I can’t give up my child.”
However, adoption is not about “giving up” or “giving away.” It involves making a thoughtful parenting plan for your child by choosing another family to raise him or her. It is a courageous, selfless decision that not only transforms your life but also the lives of your child and the chosen family. Adoption presents an opportunity for a fresh start, offering a hopeful future to both the child and the birth mother.
Adoption has undergone significant changes in the past 5-10 years, leading to a considerable amount of misinformation within the community regarding its nature. Many people are familiar with the concept of “closed adoptions” or “confidential adoptions,” where an adoption agency or lawyer chooses the adoptive family. In such cases, neither the birth mother nor the adoptive family know about each other’s identity, except for medical information necessary for the child’s care.
Closed adoptions are becoming increasingly uncommon, as open adoptions have become the new standard in the US. While closed adoptions can be easily defined, open adoptions encompass a wider range of possibilities. They are tailored to meet the desires, needs, and preferences of both the birth mother and the adoptive family. The birth mother chooses the family and engages in direct communication with them through letters, pictures, phone calls, and even visits. Each open adoption experience is unique, providing a healthy and enriching dynamic for the birth mother, her child, and the adoptive family.
When deciding if adoption is the right choice for you, ask yourself the following questions:
- Do you have the financial and emotional resources for parenthood?
- Are you ready for the commitment?
- Do you have a supportive community?
- What are your overall goals in life?
If you find yourself facing an unplanned pregnancy, Prestonwood Pregnancy Center is here to support you. We offer free pregnancy tests and sonograms to provide you with essential information. If you are interested in learning more about adoption, please click here, and we can arrange for an adoption agency to provide you with further guidance and information about your options.
Please note that Prestonwood Pregnancy Center is not an adoption agency nor affiliated with one, but we can refer you to reputable agencies that can provide you with the most up-to-date and accurate information on adoption. Rest assured that you are under no obligation to choose adoption or work with any specific agency. Our goal is to ensure you have access to the best resources and make informed decisions regarding adoption, directly from the experts in the field.
