Adoption Support Group

I asked my husband to write a blog post on his feelings about adoption and foster care. This is what he said.

So the question was posed to me, how do I feel about adoption and foster care? This really made me sit down and think about it. Honestly, if you had told me even a few years ago that this would be something that I would be considering I probably would have told you that was crazy talk. I've just always assumed that I would have my own children, and that would be that. When it began to look like that wasn't going to be possible, I thought about adoption. A typical closed adoption of an infant is really no different to me than having a child of my own. Yeah, there will be a few things extra to discuss with the child, but overall its still what I was expecting. Then it was suggested I look in to the fostering and/or adoption through the county. How I felt was apprehensive. It really kind of frightens me, because I am not sure what sort of abuse or neglect these children have had to deal with. I worry that I am not skilled or experienced enough at parenting to cope with a child that really needs a good parent. That was how I felt at first, as I read more and have taken some time to think about it I'm not as scared about the whole ordeal. I realized that all parents worry about not being good parents to their children. They all worry about whether they are skilled enough or "ready" to be a parent. Now, I'm anxious and excited at the same time. I realize that what I am trying to do will make a difference to at least one child out there. Instead of having a child of my own, I have elected to try and help other with their children. Its important work, and it makes me feel almost like I'm being a superhero swooping in to help a family in need. I know that it will be a lot of hard work, but everything that's worth doing is hard work. This is where I stand right now heading in to the prospect of becoming a foster or adoptive parent.