Adopting is a very big decision!! Are you adequately prepared? This is where sharing an experience provides this much needed support

Are you thinking about adopting? Thousands of children are placed with adoptive parents every year in the world (between 6 and 10 million in the U.S.A. alone), so you're not alone.

Adoption can be a solution to both the adoptive parents, (giving them rights and responsibilities) and the adopted child (providing social, emotional and legal rights as a family member). This legal process can provide a very special connection between a child and his or her adoptive parents.

The choice to adopt often results from the prospective parents having been through years of struggling and much heartache to conceive a child.

Many children needing adoption have special needs including physical impairments or a history of abuse or neglect.

A great many adoptions take place amongst relatives or by step parents. Remember that for all the joys ahead, there will also be difficulties. Your adopted child needs you to be prepared and eager to create this new family and your total commitment to making it work, no matter what.

When considering adoption, you need to do a thorough soul searching assessment. Both partners need to be brutally honest with themselves and spend some time in deep thought as to the seriousness and dedication of this decision. Remember that you are deciding on your future as well as that of an innocent child.

Ask yourself these questions as a means of determining your readiness for adoption:

- Your reason/s for considering adoption? Are you trying to save a marriage or perhaps just to fit in with friends who have children?

- Would it bother you that you are not genetically related to your child? If you eventually have genetic children of your own, will you still feel committed to your adopted child and offer them both the same amount of love and opportunity in life?

- Are you prepared for the actual adoption process? It is lengthy, time consuming, soul consuming and the scrutinization of this assessment can be daunting to say the least. Have you done some research about obstacles such as age-restrictions or perhaps some other concerns which may affect your ability to adopt? Have you considered that the child may not be an infant, or from a different culture?

- How about special needs? Are you able to handle the financial costs of a child with disabilities? Would you make lifestyle changes for a transracial adoption to help them feel comfortable and build self-esteem?

- Have you spoken to adoptive parents, gained some insight as to the road that lies ahead?

Although a child does not require "perfect" parents, you do have to be able to prove that you are able to care for a child by providing a good and safe environment. And as with bringing any child into this world, biological or adopted, loads of love and loads of patience is required. Being prepared is half the battle won.

Adopting can be the most rewarding experience of your life!