Adoption

Be Sure You Ask the Right Questions of the Agency and Adoptive Parents Before You Give Your Baby Up for Adoption If you are thinking about putting your baby up for adoption, you need to protect your baby and yourself and ask the right questions before you choose an agency or adoptive parents. You may not want to think about the details of an adoption right now because you feel so emotional about the prospect of putting your baby up for adoption. But, you have to be sure you have made the right decision about the adoption agency and the adoptive parents before you give your baby over to anyone. If you don’t feel think you can do this alone, find a friend, clergyman or family member to help you do the research. You will have the peace of mind of knowing you did the right thing and gave your baby the life he/she deserves. Adoption Agencies – There are many adoption agencies out there and you must thoroughly check references to find out about the experience of others who have used that agency. You want to know that they are reputable and that they provide the support and services they promise. Your agency should give you counseling and advisory services to help you through this difficult time. The adoption agency should also help you make financial arrangements. Adoption agencies can fund prenatal care and delivery expenses, and provide financial assistance during your pregnancy. They will also offer legal services and cover expenses to complete the adoption process. Schedule an interview with the staff of the adoption agency to ensure that you know how they work and what the staff is like. You don’t want them to pressure you to make a particular choice. Be sure they give you plenty of choices for adoptive parents, and that they will let YOU interview the prospective adoptive parents too. Prospective Adoptive Parents – Before you sit down to talk to the couples who may become the adoptive parents, make a list of what you want to know. Pretend you are interviewing the couple for a job opening in your company. What skills and knowledge would you want a parent to have? What should their character be like? Think of questions about the home environment. Will your adopted baby have her own room? Does the adoptive family have children now? How old are the children? Are the prospective adoptive parents going to adopt more children? If so, when? How are they going to pay for your baby’s college education? Do the prospective adoptive parents expect to move soon or are they going to live in their current home for a few years, a few decades? What kind of health insurance does the adoptive couple have? Is it enough to pay for routine childhood healthcare expenses? Do they have grandparents, and sisters and brothers to help care for the baby they adopt? Do they both work? If so, who will take care of the adopted baby when they are away? You can think of more questions specific to your own circumstances. Of course, the adoption agency will clear the adoptive parents and interview them, visit their home and perform routine clearances processes. The questions YOU will ask are to give you peace of mind and help you become acquainted with the prospective adoptive parents on a personal level. Speaking of personal, don’t be afraid to ask personal questions. This is YOUR child’s life you are discussing, and it is important you feel comfortable with this adoption. Finally, ask yourself and the adoptive parents about visitation. Find out how and when they intend to tell their adopted child about you, the biological mother. Decide if you really want to see the baby after the baby is adopted. Do you want to play a part in his life? How will the adoptive parents accommodate your decision if you decide you want to see your baby after you have said you will NOT be a part of his life? The United States supports open adoptions, and modern laws enable adopted children and their biological mothers to easily find each other even if they have not seen each other since the adoption. Today the adoptive parents and biological mother can handle these relationships and visits as they choose. So it is important to know your rights and the plans of the adoptive couple before you engage in an adoption proceeding. Remember, the adoption decision belongs to the biological mother alone. And it is a difficult decision for most people. Consider your choices and be serious about what you owe to yourself and to your baby. Ask for help from those you trust if you feel you need help making this decision. It is the most important decision you will ever make. Article Writen By Timothy Rea Copyright 2006