Why would you adopt? ?

Nic

I think it has a lot to do with the fact that people want to adopt babies. It's going to sound awful but it's become fashionable for young girls to keep their babies now so in order to adopt in north america most people are forced to adopt children that are older or go abroad.

Add: Everyone here seems to think that people adopt in order to "save" a child. What about just wanting kids and not being able to have any??? I suppose that's selfish.....

Lillie

I couldn't begin to tell you why celebrities adopt a rainbow of kids from every country. Maybe they really think they are doing a good thing, maybe it's a little bit of good publicity, maybe it's because it's the latest trend, I don't know. I'm not famous and have no idea why famous people do what they do.

But adopting from foreign countries is DEFINITELY not less expensive...in many cases (and especially compared to adopting from foster care) it is much, much more expensive. Factor in the travel costs, and yeah, it blows domestic adoption out of the water as far as cost. Many countries are making it harder for foreigners to adopt by making their regulations stricter...China for instance, has recently made some drastic changes to the requirements on who may adopt their children, regarding issues such as age, health, even weight, etc.

Adoption SHOULD be about finding a home for children who need one...and good for you for wanting to provide one for one of the thousands of kids currently in foster care. We need more people like you who are willing to step up to the plate. Adoption from foster care is relatively inexpensive. You will still have to go through the home studies and all the legal "red tape" so they call it, but that is worth it to make sure you will provide a good home for the child.

I myself would only adopt out of foster care...and then, I don't think I would adopt, because that is the process of legally altering that child's identity and sealing his or her birth certificate. I could just as happily be a legal guardian and keep that child's original birth certificate, name, history, etc. intact and still love that child as any mother figure could, without needing a fake birth certificate issued with my name on it. If I took in a foster child, he or she would never have to go through what I have and have his or her rightful documents sealed and denied to them simply because they are adopted.

Whatever you do in the future, good luck.

Jennifer L

Well, good for you for wanting to adopt from foster care. Many children in the foster care system need homes.

But many children in other parts of the world need homes too. US children are not "more deserving" of that and discounting someone else's adoption choice because they didn't adopt from their own country first is a very ethnocentric way to look at things.

I have no idea why celebrities choose to adopt from overseas. For many, I'm sure it's a publicity thing. Others may have witnessed global poverty (which by the way, is no comparasion to US poverty. Poor people in the US are still wealthier than about 90% of the rest of the world) and then chose to adopt one of the millions of orphans worldwide.

The decision to adopt is a personal one. Not everyone is able or willing to meet the challenges of a foster care adoption.

ETA: Sorry to disappoint, but I'm not feeling guilty at all. Thanks for your concern.

But the point is, a child who didn't have a home, has one. Isn't that the bottom line?

Randy B

For me it was cheaper to adopt internationally however that was not the reason we did so. We were in the position in the early 90s where we were living overseas for three years because of my job so we chose to adopt at that time. Owing to our location and situation the whole adoption process was $800 US however if we had done it from Canada it would have been close to $30k. Although price was not an option for us at that time, since we didn't know the difference and only found out the normal costs when we returned to Canada, it turned out to work in our favour.

We were newly married at the time we did our first adoption and we had always planned on adopting one day but we just found ourselves in a position where we could adopt earlier then we anticipated. Since then we have had one "miracle baby" of our own that we were not supposed to be able to have and we recently just adopted through domestic foster care.

As for "celebrities" adopting overseas, I don't know why they do it. Some will say for publicity, some will say because it's the "in thing" to do. I take a bit more simplistic view of it all. I think that because they see the world and travel so much they are drawn to those who have less then we do and if they choose to adopt then that is the way they choose to go. Some of them anyway. There are plenty of celebrities that have chosen to adopt domestically however it seems that the press gives the international adoptions more ink. I guess it sells more papers.

Either way, I don't fault anyone for adopting, domestically or internationally. I have my preferences as to how I would do it but it is their life and they are entitled to live it as they see fit. There is the side that sees a loss of culture and heritage and there is the side that sees the advantages to being adopted and not spending a lifetime (for some it is a lifetime since they die in orphanages) awaiting adoption. I chose to look on the side that sees the advantages to life in a third world country. After all, regardless of which passport we hold we are all ultimately citizens of the world.

Katy

actually its way more expensive to adopt out of the country... not to mention the criteria for being an adoptive family is way more elaborate i believe...

i think the reason why people want to is because most of the time, the conditions in the orphanages and foster homes are worse off then ours...and like most people wanting to adopt, they just want to help.

http://www.holtinternational.org/adoption/criteria.php

sizesmith

No one here can answer for sure, because we aren't walking in the celebrity's shoes. I would love to adopt again for many reasons, such as I love to hear a voice say hello in the mornings. The fact that so many kids through the house, and I'd love for more to stay. I enjoy being awakened on Saturday mornings to the sounds of cartoons, to hear the "is it time to wake her up yet?", and those little kisses sent from heaven. I've enjoyed the teens come through the house, acting like they've not eaten in 5 years (though I know I fed them lunch), and say, "wow, can I have some more?". I've comforted tears, had doors slammed in my face, had to pack bags after court sessions, and had parents take kids "back", when in reality, they just are in their own world. But, when the kid comes back, 5 years later and says, "Thanks", the hardships just disappear! Every smile makes any sacrifice not a sacrifice, but just another step backwards to regain balance to go forward. I'd love to adopt many more!

Perhaps, maybe, some of those celebrities actually care about kids. Did anyone ever suspect that?

Nurse Autumn Intactivist NFP

YAY!!!!!

There IS hope for America!

ETA: I do not think that people should adopt out of their country "first" The way I see it, a child in need is a child in need. I don't care what part of the planet they are on. I do however have a problem with the reason most people choose IA (no "baby mama drama", exotic looking child, get a young child with less wait, the celebs are doing it, child has less chance of reuniting ect...) , the lack of care to *INSURE* that the child was TRULY an orphan and/or unwanted, and the lack of care people give to provide the child his/her culture. Now I do think that there *ARE* people out there who go about it the right way and I have NO problem with them.

Amanda

It actually costs the same as domestic adoption (although foster care is free). Legally there is more paperwork as well.

My opinion is a child that needs a home is a child that needs a home, no matter where they live. The children in America are no more important then the children elsewhere.

leiasophia

It's their choice. Maybe they think that many people adopt children their own race (like you) so they prefer to adopt children from other races because they really need help..

It is because the children in 3rd world countries live in harsher conditions then the ones here.So they focus on them first.I plan on doing the same later on.

jessica d

we have 5 kids now and are in the usa as am i. we have had problem with familys and it is hard some times. and the way we are doing it it cost less and easier.

GetoverIt

The rich and the famous adopt kids on a whim ,meaning when and where ever they want. During the adoption stages these people are thinking about satisfying their selves first as opposed to the well being of the child.
Being non outspoken about the atrocities that lead to homeless children these stars do everything but promote child exploitation.

On the other hand those of us who genuinely wish to adopt kids as you and I do one day , Hopefully big house full of kids , I think adoption is a great thing. I would adopt kids because they simply need it the most. alot of adopted kids have been abused all their life or literally thrown away and they are a challenge.

Anyway there are tons of reasons to adopt Go Kat C make as much money as you can so if you do run into a child filled with problems at least you'll have enough to provide necessary counseling or other means of helping the child. Keep in mind the least money/education you have the harder it is to keep up/take care of a kid/any kid.

â™¥â™¥Ritaâ™¥â™¥

I think the fad/thought is that children from other countries must not have any ISSUES like those American Foster kids do. I am being sarcastic here.

The truth is that they probably have more and other types of issues. I believe the little girl Angelina Jolie adopted had parasites and rickets.

Also, parents are not as likely to come back and you don't have to deal with THOSE SIBLING VISITS. The little boy Madonna adopted had a dad that wanted him back....but did he get him?? Nope....it was all swept under the carpet real fast.

Jackie B

I've looked into both domestic and international adoption. Intl is definitely more expensive and takes longer. I would like to do both and here is my reason for intl adoption. Yes, there are a lot of children here who need homes. I'm sure I'll get some flack for this but for the most part the worst of the worst kids in the US are faring far better than children in third world countries. We've all seen the kids who are just skeletons covered with skin. They're more likely just left to die. Orphanages are overcrowded and underfunded. While facilities here may not be ideal, I'd be willing to bet they're still better than those in third world countries. I know a lot of people hate Angelina, but watch a video of her on YouTube (Angelina crying interview) and she talks about this kid that dies because of inadequate health care. And she was told that's just the way it is. And that is so unacceptable anywhere. It's truly heartbreaking and I'm sure it happens here too but not as much in those other countries. A lot of people are adamant that we should take care of our own, and we should, but out there somewhere is a child that needs a home and if someone is willing to do that, they should be commended. No one child is more important than another. The focus has to remain on these children who need homes, regardless of where they are.

Melyssa

I dont know. I agree, I would love to adopt a young child from u.s one day if our situation allows for another child.
I think anytime you give a child home it's a good thing, no matter where they come. I do know that getting ababy from here is hard, thats why some poeople go to china etc where baby girls get abandoned a lot

Wonka

I think its because orphans in other countries live more of a harsh life than orphans do here. I mean America can just do a fund raiser from a school or something and have that money go to an orphanage. While other countries don't get that option. In other countries it's more like everyone for himself and the people in other countries cant really help their own orphans when they can't even afford money for their own children. I think that's why people like to adopt from other countries.

StarWarsGirl015

Most people just want there kids to be different and there are also kids that aren't in this country that are orphans

allchildrenareangels

My husband and I really want to adopt also. We will be adopting in our own country. I am considering adopting through the foster system right now. I think the reason that some Americans go to other countries to adopt is the wait is not as long. If you go through an agency it can take up to two years that is if you get a little one at all. There are children overseas in orphanages waiting so they don't have to wait as long to know who there little one will be. I want to adopt through foster care. A lot of people want infants though. You can get an infant if you do you would have to go through foster to adopt. The problem is this the foster care systems first and foremost priority is keeping the child with the biological parents. So they give the parents try after try to straighten out before they take away the parents rights. I do understand wanting to get them back together if it looks like the parents can be good parents. The thing is they give druggies, abusers and people who neglect their children chance after chance. This hard watching the children suffer. The childrens rights are not put first. Another thing that scare people about adopting through the system is if you are doing foster to adopt. You can have a child for years and have all family members say they don't want the child. Then if a family member changes their mind right before the adoption goes through you can lose your child. I have seen things happen again and again. It is just to heart breaking for some. I really wish the foster care system would change and put the childrens rights first. Sorry but, a person that does drugs in the presence of their child and abuses or neglects them in my eyes does not deserve a second chance. I think to save myself heartache I will be adopting a child that is already legally free for adoption through the state. If you are white chances are to get a healthy child you will have to adopt 8 or above. Then you run the risk that they will never be able to get past the trauma. You know if the abuse has been bad enough to take the child away forever the abuse was probably bad.

I think if you are a strong and loving person you will be able to handle adopting a child through the state. Be strong and I wish you the best.

As far as movie stars go and adopting children from other countries. I think the children are nothing more then show pieces. Who can do the most charity work. It is kind of sad. :0(

Love,
Michelle

Sophie

Well pin a rose on your nose, Ms. Savior of American children...really.

People are sick of the American way of shuffling, I mean fostering children until they can be booted out into society all screwed up... all paid for with good ole' American tax dollars. Can you say legalized public child abuse? Some folks just don't want to participate in that crap. Once out of the system, (the ones who were shuffled from home to home) come out an are burdens on society and populate the our jail systems.

---
I know- the truth HURTS! Here's another ignorant comment:
"Going the legal route leaves Aps with less options and it frustrates them." PUKE!

Trophy Wife + bun

Maybe it is because then they don't have to worry about someone coming back for their child or abusing the fact that they are celebrities. I also think it is probably easier to adopt in other countries but Im not sure.

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