So often on this blog, we share adoption tips about what to do in the process. But since there are many opportunities for hitches along the way, today we’re going to share about what NOT to do in adoption, and things to be aware of.
The adoption pointers we provide below may seem like common sense, but they come from Lifetime’s years of experience working with adoptive parents and birth mothers. All of the situations we share are ones we’ve experienced.
Lifetime wants to make sure that you’re prepared and equipped with accurate information of what not to do. By becoming informed, you can focus on doing the right things to really ensure a safe and successful adoption!
3 things to avoid doing immediately if you want to adopt successfully:
1. Complaining
Staying positive during your adoption journey is vital. In order to achieve positivity, you need to have an outlet to vent and complain to when you face stress. This outlet could be your spouse, someone from your circle of friends, a family member, or a trusted friend from church.
Many find that writing in a journal is a helpful tool for getting their emotions “out there.” Also, consider prayer; it can be a great way to give your worries to the Lord. Some adoptive couples may need to seek outside counseling. So you can become the best parent you can be, make sure you’re taking care of yourself by getting enough sleep, exercising, and eating healthy foods.
Your adoption is going to be a reflection of your attitude throughout your adoption journey. For example, we recommend that you don’t complain to a birth mother about your infertility, a previous adoption loss, or the adoption process.
Your adoption professional is there to help in a productive way toward completing an adoption. However, when you’re waiting to be chosen by a birth mother, many factors are outside of their control. If you’re following all of the instructions given by your adoption professional, you’re already doing everything in your power to successfully adopt. It’s simply a matter of time before your adoption takes place, as long as you’re continuing to follow the steps that are necessary.
2. Sounding Desperate
2. Sounding DesperateMany couples choose adoption because they’re unable to have a biological child or have experienced a miscarriage. However, you’ll want to remove the words “I deserve to be a parent”from your vocabulary if you don’t want to sound desperate to a birth mother.
Avoid wording that sounds as if your happiness depends on someone else. Saying something to the effect of “my life won’t be full until I have a child” sure puts a lot of pressure on a birth mother!
Lifetime understands that you may feel like your family isn’t complete yet. But you have to go into adoption not putting that pressure on someone else. A birth mother shouldn’t have to handle the pressure of completing your life’s dream. That’s not why she’s choosing adoption; she’s choosing it to provide her child with the best possible life she can.
3. Making Assumptions
Avoid assuming anything about a birth mother or her situation. Many people think of a birth mother as a 16-year-old who made a mistake with her boyfriend. But, that’s not who’s choosing adoption today. Similarly, they’re not heroin addicts who live on the street. The typical birth mother today does not fit into either of those categories. Not all birth mothers are young, single, homeless, battered, dropouts, or drug users. They’re just regular women who are trying to make the best decision for their child.
In terms of judging, you want to be sure that you’re not passing judgment on her baby based on her situation or the circumstances of her lifestyle. We’ve had families pass on an adoption opportunity because they didn’t like the tone of the birth mother’s voice when they chatted. It’s important that you don’t pass judgment on her choices or how she lives. These women are not coming from perfect situations, or else they wouldn’t be considering adoption; they wouldn’t be considering you.
Don’t assume that this decision is a negative one for her. Avoid writing or saying statements such as “I know this must be a terrible decision for you to make” or “I imagine you’ve been through something awful to have to choose adoption.” Good mothers choose adoption; mothers who love their children choose adoption. She’s making a positive decision at a personal cost for the sake of her child. She’s doing it for her child and so you don’t need to acknowledge a negative situation that she may not be feeling.
This article was originally published on April 2, 2018, and has since been updated.
Founder of Lifetime Adoption, adoptive mom, adoption expert, and Certified Open Adoption Practitioner (C.O.A.P).
Since 1986, adoption expert Mardie Caldwell has been dedicated to bringing couples and birth parents together in order to fulfill their dreams.
“Many years ago, I was also searching for a child to adopt. We didn’t know where or how to get started. Through research, determination, and a prayer, our dream of a family became reality. I started with a plan, a notebook, assistance from a caring adoption consultant and a lot of hard work; this was my family I was building. We had a few heartaches along the way, but the pain of not having children was worse!
Within weeks we had three different birth mothers choose us. We were overwhelmed and delighted. Many unsettling events would take place before our adoption would be finalized, many months later. Little did I know that God was training and aligning me for the adoption work I now do today. It is my goal to share with our families the methods and plans which succeed and do not succeed. I believe adoption should be affordable and can be a wonderful “pregnancy” for the adoptive couple.
I have also been on both sides of infertility with the loss of seven pregnancies and then conceiving by new technology, giving birth to a healthy daughter. I have experienced first-hand the emotional pain of infertility and believe my experience allows me to serve your needs better.
It is my hope that for you, the prospective parents, your desire for a child will be fulfilled soon.”
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