Adoption

I'm really glad that we had the discussion on adoption on last Thursday. I have thought about adopting if I ever get married. It's important to remember that even though adoption is a beautiful gift, it's still a sacrifice and things don't always go as smoothly as we want them to. There is a lot of red tape to deal with and even after that process is taken care of there are things that could cause tension. The child could have a hard time adjusting, and people outside of the family could be judgmental.
I have heard various viewpoints on trans racial adoptions and it is disappointing to me that some people aren't accepting of it. I understand that a child who is adopted by a family of a different ethnicity may struggle with developing their identity, but if they live in a supportive family it shouldn't have to be a destructive issue. Dr. Hollist and his family seem to be very open to helping their son discover his native culture while still fitting in to the culture of his adoptive family. Like we said in class, the majority of adopted children are going to be curious about their origins. If they are given a chance to explore, this will give them a chance to grow instead of feeling split between two realities.
Adoption is a very serious issue and it may not be for everyone. If a family is planning on adopting, they should make sure that everyone in the family is okay with this decision. They should be prepared to improvise and make adjustments when things don't go as planned. Going along with the content and process theme, it doesn't matter what ethnicity a child is or if they have special needs. The way the family acts to form a welcoming and nurturing environment is what determines the success of an adoption.