Could they adopt? At their age?

grapesgum

It is highly unlikely that they will be able to adopt "a little one" or the "little girl that she always wanted". If they try to adopt an infant through a private adoption (attorney or agency), the mothers do the choosing, and I don't think anyone in their right mind would choose a couple over 50 years of age. Social services have similar age limits for young children.

It sounds like they want to adopt to fulfill their needs. They really need to get counseling to find out if a child is appropriate to fulfill their emptiness. If I am wrong about that and they truly want to adopt to help a child, there are thousands of older children who need homes. They could really make a change in an older child's life.

ETA - There are very, very few infants who need homes so no worry about an infant being "passed up". There are hundreds of people vying for each infant. Why do people think that there are infants "on-the-shelf", ready to go for the claiming? It is just not the case. I don't get it.

ETA - Adoption is not a bandaid to cure life's heartaches. Please think of the poor child. How would you like to grow up knowing that you were placed in a home to fix a problem for someone? That's exploitation.

â™¥â™¥Ritaâ™¥â™¥

It is slightly possible, but in fairness to the child, they should adopt an older child so that child would not experience the loss of yet another set of parents before he/she turned the age of majority.

ETA:

There is no reason to insult these people. However, it makes no sense at all for a sixty-something set of grandparents to adopt an infant.

Think about it, if they did adopt an infant and the youngest parent is 60, when that child is 20....that makes that parent 80....if that now adult child had children at 25, that makes one of the "new" grandparents 85. Studies show, young adults are still in need of intense parental support even in to their late twenties and early thirties. Is that fair to expect the a/parents to be around to support their adopted child in this manner and is it fair to expect this young adult to potentially play nurse maid to sickly parents?? I don't think so.

You have but to do the math to know that this makes no sense what so ever....it is not fair for these folks to expect to get to adopt an infant....as there are many younger people out there who also would adopt that same infant and it is just not fair to the child.

I am all for these folks adopting an older child, even a teenager. Contrary to popular beleif, not ALL teens from foster care are "JACKED UP". These are the kids who need parents and they are the one's who need mature, expereinced and one might say even realisitically thinking parents.

All of the they-have-lots-of-love stuff aside......they do not need to adopt an infant. Can it happen?? Maybe. Is it fair?? Absolutely not.

Take care.

Linny G

Its highly doubtful. They may be able to be foster parents, but most places have a combined age limit for adoptive parents, and that is rarely over the age of 90.

They should volunteer at a children's hospital. Kinda selfish that people that age would want a baby that they will probably not see graduate.
***eta***
calling them selfish is NOT insulting, it's true. Wanting to adopt an infant when you are elderly is selfish and quite frankly, irresponsible. Elderly persons can have sudden health issues, mobility, eye sight, memory issues, etc. Its ridiculous for them to want to adopt an infant at their age. Maybe they should be checked for dementia. The issues that the elderly face are the reasons agencies put an age restriction in place. Its hard enough to deal with aging parents when you are in your 40's. Trying to deal with it when you are a teenager is not fair.

If they truly want to parent again, they should become foster parents, or spend more time with their own children, grand children & nieces and nephews.

The sheer fact you said, "My mother-in-law could very well get the little girl she wanted!" sums it up quite accurately. It's about HER want, and that want is a baby girl. Its about HER, and adoption should NEVER be about what the parent wants.

yeahright

Most of the age groups in the US that I've seen for new born infant for private adoption is 50. Many of the countries outside of the US are actually more strict about age, weight and several other factors as well.

In my state you can foster at that age however.

aloha.girl59

Probably not. Try to look at this objectively for a minute: if they are "in their early 60s" they will both be pushing 80 when their child graduates from high school. IF they live that long (and they may), will they be equipped to handle all the drama that goes hand in hand with teenagers? I know my grandparents wouldn't have been able to.

I think their extra love would be put to better use by becoming foster grandparents or volunteering at a group home or shelter. They could even rock babies in an AIDS ward or something similar. There is a reason that most people in their 60s can't conceive. Think about it. Why aren't they focusing on their soon-to-be-born grandchild? Most grandparents would be THRILLED about such an event!

Jackie B

I personally think at their age, it's a little selfish to adopt a child, especially a baby. Why? It's a fact. The older you get, the more those medical problems creep up. You can argue till you're blue in the face that they are healthy and have very healthy lifestyles. That may be all good for the moment, but some diseases/disorders happen independently of general health and lifestyle. Some are genetic and rear their ugly heads at an older age. The overall life expectancy in the US is at 78 years. Meaning, that if your in-laws did adopt an infant, statistically speaking, they wouldn't live to see him/her graduate from high school. And yes, people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s die every day. But their deaths are not usually age-related. When you adopt, you have to think beyond the here and now.

â™¥Tomâ™¥ (I'm a Girl)

They would have to adopt an older kid

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: