Is Child Adoption Right For Me?Adopting a child is a life changing decision for you and your future child. A lot of work is required before you’ve signed any official adoption documents. The job of a parent is never ending. Adopting a child can be a rewarding experience, but any parent, biological or adoptive, will tell you the job certainly comes with its challenges. Needless to say there’s a lot of planning that goes into adoption.

It brings you to question if adoption is the right fit for you. If you and your partner are considering adoption, be sure to go over some of these basics:

Why Have You Chosen to Adopt? Couples and single adults all over the world decide to adopt for many different reasons. Some couples are unable to conceive a child naturally; therefore they have developed an interest in adoption and therefore talk to an adoptive agency to explore their options. Infertile couples may have already had one child and are hoping to expand their family, but unfortunately some couples may no longer be in their child-baring years.

In other cases, some couples adopt because they believe this act is saving a child who has grown up without a mother and/or father for some or most of their lives. These couples want to provide the child with a loving and supportive environment. They want to nourish the child and give them a life that may not have been possible otherwise.

Whether you’re in the former or latter situation, it’s important to figure out exactly why you’re considering going through with a decision as important as adoption. There are so many reasons for people to adopt. Some reasons are as simple as wanting to expand your family and other reasons are a little more specific and unique.

What Type Of Adoption Are You Seeking?

There are many types of adoption, and not every adoption agency will offer what adoptive parents are looking for. Many agencies will offer to do domestic adoption and international adoption; others may only offer one option. Whatever the case may be, you should definitely do your homework when considering what form of adoption you’ll be pursuing.

Are you and your partner seeking to adopt an infant? Will your infant be born in the United States? Have you considered adopting internationally? Older couples seeking to adopt a child, often end up adopting an older child because they feel it is a more appropriate fit. They may not be able to offer the same kind of care they could at a younger age, but they can still provide a loving and nurturing environment for an older child in need of a caring family.

It’s important to find the right fit for you and your significant other. If you’re making the decision to be a single parent, talk to your adoption agent to discuss the right fit for you as a potential parent.

Are You Financially Prepared?

Whether you’re an adoptive parent or a biological parent, it’s important to be at financially stable state before bringing a child into your life. Children aren’t only a time investment, but a monetary investment as well. On average, it costs anywhere from $140,000 to $290,000 up until a child is 17. The estimate of this cost is believed to cover education, food, clothing and health expenses.

As an adoptive parent, your expenses may be a lot higher than biological parents. The average cost of adopting can range from $25,000 and $35,000. While this total fee does cover a lot that your adoption agency can tell you about, it is still a large investment. Therefore, it requires a great amount of thought and consideration.

Becoming a parent will teach you a thing or two about budgeting and cutting back unnecessary costs. You once splurged on fancy dinners with your significant other, but once you’ve become a parent, you’ll start to see how important it is to spend money by any means possible. There is no longer room to splurge on material needs. Is that something your ready for?

Are You Prepared For The Time Commitment?

It goes without saying; your life is going to be vastly altered. The time you once had, otherwise known as “me” time, will now belong to your child. You don’t have the luxury of asking for days off, or sick days like a normal job. This realization ends up being the biggest shock to all parents. Truthfully, any parent will tell you there is no real way to prepare for the change in lifestyle. Simply accept that your life will no longer be as it was.

Do You Have A Strong Support System?

Making the announcement about your new child is an exciting and nerve-wracking experience. However, getting the support of family and friends is a great support system for not only a parent and his/her partner, but for the child as well. This support system is an extended family that will be able to assist emotionally, and in some cases even financially.

Life will get hectic and you may need help from supportive family and friends. By establishing a relationship between a child and other individuals in the family, parents are creating opportunities for the child to become familiar and comfortable with this new life. Parents always need a little help baby-sitting and caregiving. When a child is comfortable with close friends and family members, it may help the experience become a positive one for both parties.

Adopting a child is an important decision that requires careful consideration. Are you contemplating adoption, or are you already planning to adopt a child? Do you have any idea about how or where to start? Action Adoption at Providence Place of San Antonio, Texas will guide you through the adoption process while making sure all your questions are answered. Contact them today to learn more about adoption and ways to get involved with our organization.