Helpful Questions to Ask When Choosing an Adoptive Family
As a birthmother, choosing an adoptive family for your child is one of the most critical choices that you will make in your life. Not only do you need to select a family for the future health and well-being of your child, but you also must choose one that you are comfortable with. Finding the right fit for both you and your child is a crucial part of the adoption process. Learn more about how to choose an adoptive family for your child below.
What Kind of Adoption Do You Want?
There are many options to choose from when it comes to the kind of adoption that you want for your child. Some birthmothers choose closed adoptions which will sever all contact that they have with the child. Semi-open adoptions are another option and allow for the birthmother to have limited contact with the child. Open adoptions are often chosen by birthmothers who want to still have regular contact and updates with the child in the future. The first step to finding the right adoptive family for your child is to figure out what kind of adoption you want. The choice that you make in terms of communication in the future will limit your options to the families that agree to those adoption stipulations.
What Values Are Important to You?
Many birthmothers want to choose a family that has similar values to their own upbringing. Those religious birthmothers usually want to select a family that is open and honest about their religious convictions. Some birthmothers who aren’t religious may choose an adoptive family that doesn’t hold any religious views. Other family values include parenting styles, lifestyle, and even commonalities that both the birthmother and adoptive parents share.
What Family Size Do You Prefer?
There are plenty of hopeful adoptive parents who do not have any children in the home. Many birthmothers choose these types of families for their child because they know that their child will receive plenty of attention from two doting parents. However, other birthmothers want to make sure that their child grows up with a sibling and choose families who already have a child within the home. These birthmothers usually have a close relationship with their own sibling and want the same for their child in the future. Knowing what family size you want your child is an essential part of choosing an adoptive family.
What Kind of Home Do You Want for Your Child?
Adoptive families live in a variety of home locations. You’ll see those families who live in an apartment in the city to those who live on a farm in the country. Choosing the lifestyle that you want your child to have in the future is part of selecting an adoptive family. Most birthmothers just want a loving and secure home for their child without worrying about the home location. However, knowing what kind of future you envision for your child can be helpful in choosing the right family.
How Do You Feel About the Family?
The most important part of choosing an adoptive family for your child is to be comfortable and at peace with your decision. If there is any part of the profile that raises concern for you, or if you even just have an uneasy feeling about someone, don’t be afraid to move on to the next couple. Remember that you don’t owe any of the families anything and will need time to make your decision. If at any point you don’t feel right about the family, make sure to communicate your feelings to the adoption agency.
Choosing an adoptive family for your child can be stressful and time-consuming. There are many different options to choose from, and it can be hard to make a decision. Knowing that your adoptive agency has worked with these couples is important. Not only has the agency worked to present you with families who are safe choices for your child, but they have also had the families go through extensive training and educational courses as well. You can be sure that any family that you choose for your child will provide a loving and caring home for your child in the future.
