Are You Tough Enough To Adopt? (Part 2)

Written by Linny In part one, I wrote about our hopeful adoptive couple, Jill and Jon. I mentioned that they have a limited amount of money to spend in their attempt to have a child; and, that those who choose to build their family through pregnancy have little to ‘prove’ in order to show they’re worthy to become parents—-unlike people who choose to adopt a baby/child. Jill and Jon have already gone through the...

Are You Tough Enough To Adopt? (Part 1)

Just in case you’ve not heard or seen, it takes an incredible toughness to go through the adoption process. Our society likes to believe that those who adopt, simply get the idea, gather up a few hundred dollars and whisk out to their local ‘adoption agency’ or ‘birth person on the street’ to ask, ‘Can we have your baby?” If this is what you’ve thought adoption was about, you’re very wrong. The names...

Paying For Adoption Costs

A blog visitor asked: I have been looking into adoption recently, and was discouraged about the costs. I would love any kind of advice, or information about making it more affordable. How can a lower income family afford it? I took the question to our adoption forum members and this is what they suggested: >>>>>>> This is tough. I have to say it seems to be getting harder to do each time we pursue it. Further, adoption costs...

How To Adopt A Child In The United States

In this article, I’ll list the basic steps on how to adopt a child in the United States, either through a private agency/attorney or from the state foster-to-adopt system. To adopt a baby/child from a private agency or attorney, I would suggest the following: 1. Seriously sit down and create a list of what you’re hoping for. Be honest with yourself. Believe me when I say that there are families for every baby. Don’t...

The Cost Of Adoption In The United States

If you’re just starting out on an adoption quest, it can seem VERY overwhelming, indeed! Adoption in the United States isn’t easy or quick. People hoping to adopt need to be well versed in what they’re looking for and what they’ll need to have in an agency, attorney or their foster care service…or any combination of those. Prospective parents first question is usually “how much does adoption cost in the United...

Tips on the Domestic Adoption Process

The two types of domestic adoption, infant and state waiting child, are very different and have completely different needs and requirements. Children who have waited in the Foster system have a traumatic past. That past involved the state trying to reunify the family under hardship circumstances until it became clear that keeping the biological family together was not in the child’s best interests. Any child, no matter...

Adoption As A First Option (pt. 2)

This post is a continuation of Adoption As A First Option (pt. 1) “Maybe not exactly what your asking, but my dh and I each had bio children from previous relationships. We never even discussed trying for babies with each other, and actually took measures against it. For some reason, both of us felt drawn to adopt older kids for “our” kids.” “We did not try to conceive before we adopted, (or...

The Reluctant Spouse

The following article is by Jill Smolowe, author of A Love Like No Other: Stories from Adoptive Parents. My husband and I equally wanted to adopt children but I know that there are couples that struggle with this. The Reluctant Spouse: Don’t be surprised if your mate resists adoption even as you’re embracing it. By Jill Smolowe It had been a long haul to convince my husband to start a family. When biology failed...

Adoption Options

Adoption Options At-a-Glance : A Companion Guide for Families Year Published: 2003 This guide focuses on one way to think about how choices in adoption may flow from one another: There are two types of adoption: domestic and intercountry. Domestic Adoption: Agency Oversight: Agency oversight varies from licensed and accredited agencies to unregulated facilitators. Voluntary Surrender or Termination of Parental Rights (TPR):...