Adoption as an Option to Create a Family

Adoption is an Option

There are estimated 153 million orphans around the world, which means you have 153 million opportunities to adopt. Adoption is an alternative way to create a family, it is a decision that should be made very cautiously. By adopting a child, you will be taking on the legal responsibilities as a parent of a non-biological child. There is no doubt that adopting internationally is a great option for your family; your household can become multi-cultural, you can still have a child without going through pregnancy, and you can rescue a child from living in an orphanage their whole life. Adoption gives parents options and it will benefit not only your family but the child you are helping.

There are several countries to adopt from so you have many options. Your multi-cultural family can open new doors to your daily life. By adopting internationally you add a new dimension of adventure to your family life. The diversity now found in your family can also be seen in our physical world, in communities, people, cultural practices, language, the arts and more. In fact, I have a sibling, Anastasia Helberg, who was adopted from Russia. She has lived with us for eight years now. It is interesting to hear about her culture and where she is from. On the other hand, with the child coming from another country, there possibly will be a language barrier. In the beginning, it will be hard to communicate, but they will eventually catch on to the English language. First, you will need to teach them your language fluently before returning to school. So, some home-schooling may be required, or hiring a tutor. In no time, the child will feel as if you had them yourself.

Sadly, some parents aren’t able to have their own children, which can be tragic, but in some ways it works out. Adoption always comes into place when this happens. It has its many perks, such as being able to adopt a child at any age. If you don’t want to go through the baby stage, you can adopt an older child. In some cases, adoption works out even better than having your own child. I have lived my whole life with a mother who owns an adoption agency, and a sister who was adopted from Russia. Throughout my lifetime, I have met many families who have adopted and are extremely satisfied with their decision. Some have adopted because they are not able to have children, and you would never know that they don’t have the same genes. They are all treated just the same. Though, I realize that with the advantages comes the disadvantages. Such as, the price of adopting a child, it can vary through each country. For example, China can be from $25,000 to $35,000 while Ukraine can differ from $25,000 to $45,000 and up. Thankfully, there are grants available for people to adopt if you are qualified for one. As you can see, adoption gives people, many possibilities, but it comes with a price.

From what I have seen and heard, living in an orphanage can be extremely rough and at times, dreadful. Depending on the place, it can be a good place to live, but in most cases it isn’t enjoyable. The children are given very little food and are then expected to clean and do labor for the rest of the day. If they don’t do their portion of work, it may lead to them being beaten. It mostly depends on how strict the orphanage directors are. Therefore, some children leave the orphanage traumatized. In addition, orphanages get impacted and they can’t supply every child with enough food, or even a place to sleep. At times, there aren’t even enough rooms for the kids and they are forced to sleep in another room. In fact, a few years ago, I spoke with someone who visited their old orphanage after being adopted from Latvia. She told me that she visited an old friend there, whom she later realized was sleeping in a closet. There was a thin, springy mattress and a blanket that she was given to sleep with. Imagine sleeping on that every night and waking up with a sore back, that doesn’t sound very pleasing to wake up to every morning. According to Cara Helberg, owner of Across the World Adoptions, her experience when visiting an orphanage in Ukraine consisted of some of the children eating the cat food that they brought for the litter of kittens that were recently born underneath the orphanage building. As you can see, food is limited in some orphanages. Many kids are starving and they need a family to adopt them, nurture and provide them with a healthy lifestyle. Also, you can give a child a better education so they can eventually excel in life and succeed what they never would have living in an orphanage. They deserve to experience how lucky some of us are here in America, we should never take for granted what we have. Adopting can give you a feeling of contentment for helping a child in need. It truly is a rewarding experience. Many orphans are living with no parents or role models to look up to. By adopting, you can be that child’s hero. But then again, with every positive aspect comes a negative one. In some countries, the orphanage is able to treat the kids how they are meant to be treated depending on the amount of money they receive. Though it is wonderful that they aren’t starving, they may like where they are living. In my experience, some children that I have hosted to help find families for do not enjoy America. In their eyes, their country is better. They may not want to live here or be part of our society. Actually, in the process of adoption, you have to go to the country to pick up your child and it is their decision to leave or stay. If they like where they are currently living, they can say no to being adopted. If in the end they accept to come live with your family, you can be that child’s idol.

For the reasons listed above, adoption is a great opportunity for all parents looking for a future filled with joy and family. It will change your life forever, and in a positive way. Though, it may come with its many advantages and disadvantages. In the long run, it allows you to become a multi-cultural family, have a child even if you aren’t able to, and free children from orphanages. In most experiences, adoption is always a smart way to go and it usually ends up being successful. When planning on expanding your family, always think back to adoption. It is a long, expensive process, but it is very rewarding. In the end, you will be happy with your decision to adopt. Always remember, adoption is an option.