The Other Side of Adoption
I find it interesting how my perspective on adoption has been broadened in the last few weeks. I knew in my head that giving up a child for adoption must be a very difficult decision for a parent. However, I’ve been so focused on receiving a child and providing a safe, loving home that I’ve really just blown right past the depth of that decision for a parent.
Amy and I recently made the decision to give Max and Daisy up for adoption. While Max and Daisy aren’t our children (they are our dogs), we do love them and want a loving, caring home for them. This isn’t the first time our dogs have opened our eyes to aspects of parenting. (I’ll save the “obedience” and “consistency” subject for a later post.)
I’ve found that interviewing potential owners/homes for Max and Daisy has given me a much greater appreciation for the process Amy and I are going through for adopting our girl from China. Honestly, it makes all the questions, all the paperwork, all the legal steps seem inadequate for qualifying for adoption. While Amy and I know we will provide a loving and caring home for our girl it’s a difficult idea to convey through a process that spans many months, many miles and different countries.
Just as I want Max and Daisy to have a safe and loving home to spend the rest of their lives, I now feel more – albeit probably only a fraction – of what a parent must feel when deciding to allow someone else to raise, love and care for their natural born child.
- Kyle Dreier