This article discusses different reasons you should consider adoption. Adoption will change your life, and a child's life. I strongly believe in adoption, especially after my experiences with it.
There is no reason you should not consider adoption. Adoption is a beautiful gift, a beautiful experience. I hope you enjoy my story about it. Let's start from the beginning of this academic year.
I am a Bethany College senior, it is my last semester here as a social work major. As part of the Social Work program's requirements I needed to complete a 500-hour placement last semester. This placement was one of the best experiences of my life. I was placed at a residential home for children who have been pulled from families; the children have been abused or neglected. The place we'll call XYZ agency, works on the family as a whole, if possible. If the child has been pulled and the parent's rights have been terminated (taken away completely) then XYZ agency works on the child by him/herself. That child will then be placed on the adoption registry and worked with, in hopes a family will come along and want to adopt this child.
This agency houses a dozen children at a time. The workers perform daily "notes," small therapy sessions, with each child. Each child is also assigned a therapist who they work with on a weekly basis.
Completing my 500-hour placement here was nothing short of a blessing. Children who were adoptable prayed every night that a family would come along and change their lives. It was heartbreaking. At eight-years-old these children have been through more than I could ever imagine -- and I am 22. The fact that going placement to placement, foster home to foster home was so "normal" to them was mind-boggling.
At first, it was very difficult to leave work at work. I would leave XYZ agency and come back to campus and be up all night thinking about the kids and their situations. As I got further and further into my hours I learned better how to leave work at work and not bring it home with me. I taught myself that I do all that I can while at work, and that all I can do. Or was it?
I started talking to my parents about a child there who I bonded very well with. This child was very shy at first, always burying his face in his hands, or sweatshirt. After he warmed up to me though, I found out we had a lot in common -- he was very easy to get along with. I found this child to be caring, independent, loving, and had a great sense of humor. I kept nagging them about adoption. (I am a very impulsive person; I could write a whole article about that in itself.) Every time I went home, I kept mentioning to my parents his name in normal conversation and, "Hey, he would be great for this, he'd do this awesome, he'd fit right in." Usually, my parents just blew it off, until I really sat them down and discussed with them the situation.
My parents made the call. My mother called the case manager at XYZ agency and asked about the child. My parents then, subtly, came to XYZ agency a few times to interact with the child. It didn't take them long at all -- they also fell in love. After a few months of having him over every weekend, our family grew very close -- him included. Following spring break, he got the "best news of his life." He said he "had a heart attack" when he heard the news. He was finally coming home to a loving, nurturing family.
My new brother has been nothing but appreciative. This has changed his life, my life, my sisters' lives, and my parents' lives for the better. My father finally got the son he always wanted. This experience has taught me selflessness, courage, love, compassion, and appreciation.
Somebody always has it worse. Appreciate what you have, while you have it. Love your family. Your kids should be your first priority, and now, my brother finally knows what that feels like.
