It's not too often that I get all serious when it comes to adoption. I wish I had the confidence, knowledge, and ability to advocate for adoption, but usually I just count my blessings and go merrily on my way. But in the last weeks I have read some articles that really got me thinking.
First, this USA editorial from our local FSA blog.
Then this article by a teacher linked on the r house.
The stories break my heart. The statistics are grim. And then I get a little upset that adoption is never brought up as part of the solution to the problem. And while I will never know what it is like to be a birthmom, I do know the statistics show that both she and the baby are more likely to succeed if the baby is placed for adoption.
I read a message board quite often, and maybe a year ago a woman posted how stressed their family was. Her young adult daughter came to her saying she thought she was pregnant. This mother didn't know what to do. They couldn't decide if they would encourage an abortion or offer to help raise the baby. Someone else on the board pointed out a third option: adoption. The mother was quick to respond that they could never do that. There is no way she could carry the baby for nine months just to let another family raise it.
What? That is such a small sacrifice, and in the end, do you know how many people will benefit from that decision?
I don't know the purpose of this post, other than it is a lot of stuff I've been thinking of lately. I just wish our society was more pro adoption. Now go read those articles if you haven't--there's good stuff there, I promise.
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3 comments:
I'm off to read those articles. You've got to check this out: http://www.mormonwomen.com/2011/02/02/stewards-of-our-children/ I loved it! Of course, I still don't know what the heck we are doing, but these things always give me a lot to think about...for our family. I would love to hear more of your thoughts on adoption.
Wow those are just sad. I was 17 when an older single friend got pregnant. It was a novelty. of course there were serious sides to it too. She struggled and eventually picked a family to adopt to but then decided to keep the baby. A year later she ended up pregnant again but married this guy and you know 8 years later they just had their 4th kid, her 5th, they are all sealed in the temple and things are good. BUT its a rough road. I wish more people would at least consider adoption instead of a life of perpetual poverty, etc. They are children themselves!
Angela,
The statistics in those articles are unbelievable! I think you are right. More emphasis should be placed on adoption as an alternative. The second article especially made me realize how much of a cultural norm it is becoming to be a single mother. We keep trying to fix the symptoms without trying to fix the cause to begin with...unwed teen pregnancy. So much to think about. Thanks for sharing!
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