A Personal Guide to
Child Adoption

Time is slowly ticking by, I am dreaming about having a child and watching them grow. Playing with them, being there for them when they get hurt and teaching and guiding them.

Suddenly I remember how just the other day, my husband and I had decided that this would be our last attempt. It was all just too much of an emotional roller coaster ride for us, and too much to bare any longer.

Finally, the results are in. I cautiously glance toward the test, my hopes are high. The test is once again displaying a "Not Pregnant" message as loudly as if a megaphone had delivered the news.

My heart drops, I sob quietly for a while. Later I confront my husband and once the emotional pain has subsided we both take a deep breath and decide to implement the path we had agreed apon earlier. Child Adoption. Where to begin?

Does this story sound familiar to you? Have you or a loved one faced this kind of situation? Or, maybe you are one of those wonderful couples who just want to open your hearts to children who otherwise would not have a loving, nurturing environment in which to learn and grow.

Whatever your motivation may be once the decision is made what’s the next step? Truthfully, most couples don’t have a clue where to begin. More often than not, you may not even know what questions to ask.

That is where my site “Child Adoption Matters” comes in. It will guide you in a very clear language without all the legal gobbledygook, it will answer all those questions that you do know to ask and many of the ones that you don’t. For instance:

• Why Do You Want to Adopt? - Knowing why you wish to adopt is critical to your decision.

• Where and How to Begin? – Discover where your journey starts. Public agency or private adoption? What if you are turned down? What’s next?

• Who is Eligible to Adopt? – It’s expensive to raise a child and while money is not the first thing to be considered it is important that potential parents are financially secure.

• What About a Private Agency? – Learn how to negotiate the murky waters of a private agency. Discover how to spot the scams.

• What is an Identified Adoption? What is Independent Adoption - What are the pros and cons of each?

• Selecting an Adoption Attorney - What questions should you ask when interviewing an attorney?

• How to find a Birth Mother? - Letters to agencies? Where to advertise? What about Internet child adoption services?

• Meeting the Birth Mother - What should you discuss? What you should tell her and what you should ask? How to support her emotionally and financially. Do birth fathers have any rights?

• Special Conditions – Learn about single parent adoptions for men and women, adoption for gays and lesbians, adoption for unmarried couples. Are there any laws or guidelines for these types of adoption scenarios?

• International Adoption – What are the pros and cons? What are the most popular countries for child adoption? What about citizenship for the adopted child? Getting the original birth certificate for your adopted child. What about possible health concerns?

• Adopting a Toddler - Adopting a toddler thru social services, internationally or private adoption. What are some of the dangers or pitfalls of adopting toddlers?

• Telling Your Child His History - Should you tell your adopted child that he or she is adopted and if so at what age is appropriate to do so? What to do if your child wants to find their biological parent?

These are but a few of the things that you need to consider in order to properly prepare for your journey toward child adoption.

The last thing you want is to find a child and grow to love him only to have him snatched away before the adoption is final. There are never any guarantees but the very least you should do is begin your journey with your eyes wide open.

Know where to start, what to ask and when. Don’t wait. You’ve probably already waited long enough for your own child to love. Start off on the right foot!

You’re on your way to a bright and hopeful future!