Paul C Holinger M.D.

Adoption: An Essay

What is it like to suddenly be contacted by the birth parents you've never met.

Posted October 27, 2011 | Reviewed by Davia Sills

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Adopting an Identity

It's a day just like any other in my freshman year, and my mom tells me my dad cried over the contents of the envelope she just handed to me. I have a hard time believing her, because I've never seen my dad cry and because dads, by the laws of nature, aren't supposed to cry. But the envelope concerns me, and it concerned my dad enough to cry about it.

Pretty soon, I'm crying, and my mom's crying. Our faces are like shiny red beets while tears fall into our open mouths as we try and fail to talk to each other through the tears. We only manage blubbering, guttural noises.

Inside the envelope are letters and pictures. My mom says they're from my biological parents, and that idea doesn't process, because the handwritten letter from my bio-father looks so much like my mom's handwriting that I think she's playing some sort of trick on me. She's not.

I flip through pictures of Chimene and Richard, these accidental lovers, and of the two half-siblings I never knew about. It's surreal; I feel only half awake as I flip among the pictures and wonder who these people are and wonder who I am because of these letters.

I felt out of place in my family. I would see families stockpiled with love. But love felt awkward since I didn't know how to give it, because I didn't, and in some ways still don't, appreciate everything my family does for me.

And I didn't see myself in my parents. They didn't read; they didn't like the kind of movies I like; they didn't share my atheism, my cynicism , or any personality quirks. I didn't understand the concept of all this familial love, because I wasn't sure how to love my parents when I felt disconnected from them.

My mom lingers. I think she feels as though she's obligated to help me along this emotional journey because she's my mom, and that's her job. All I can think about is how similar this is to the moment in the second grade when I was told I was adopted. I laid on the king-sized bed in my parents' room, talking about my day, wide-eyed at the fact that a girl in my grade was adopted. And then my mom told me that the girl and I had similar life stories.

My mom claimed she told me when I was young, but I didn't remember. At 8, I was told I was unique in a way I didn't want to be. We sat in silence for a while, and I wanted nothing more than to go away and cry. So I excused myself and got a Pepsi from the fridge. My mom accompanied me, and I can't remember feeling more sad, embarrassed, and angry in my entire childhood at the fact that she wouldn't leave me alone.

My biological mother uses an abundance of "teehees" in her structurally strange, typed letter because apparently she's funny, and laughter can't be captured on paper. I can't connect with her "teehees." I can't see any humor in the impersonal black ink. I can't connect with a person whose letter is like a resume, a list of altruistic hobbies and likable characteristics. Yet, I look at this paper and see myself in her love of books, her terrible humor. And I feel almost a sense of... relief.

I can't relate to my parents. And now I'm reading about this woman, seemingly so foreign, this woman who's training for the Iraq war and likes to plant, whose first love is God followed by her husband John, this woman who's half like me. Only half, but that's half more than I can say for my parents.

I sift through her computer-paper memories printed in the dull-colored ink. Then I move on to Richard. I already like him. He gave me actual pictures, glossy, without fingerprint smudges, true and genuine, just like his handwritten letter that tells me he took time and effort in this compilation.

I almost feel like an intruder looking at his best friends, his brother, his beard that makes him look like The Dude from The Big Lebowski . Richard begins by feeling obligated to tell me that I wasn't a mistake, that there was a good reason why I was brought up by a different family, blah blah. I don't need comfort from a man I don't know.

benefits of adoption essay

But I do know him. It's terrifying to the point where my hands begin to shake.

I know him because I'm the carbon copy of him, from his cheekbones to his aspirations. Our canines are identical, our eyes mirrors, our dimples cousins, our smiles duplicates. As I read the letter, I grow more and more dumbfounded. I want to major in film, and I think NYU is just about the most amazing school there is. So when I read that he majored in film production at NYU, I'm literally scared.

The similarities don't stop there. We're both adopted, we both love movies to no end, we like math, we prefer Judaism to other religions, we're both this, and we're both that. This letter is staring me in the face, telling me that I'm not random, that it's OK to not be like my family because I'm not exactly a part of them.

It's natural to want to believe that humans are independent. We all like to think we have freedom, that we're not controlled by anyone or anything. But science suggests that we are biased creatures with predispositions originating from either our genes or our environments. The nature versus nurture debate has been going since the dawn of psychology. Some say that we are a product of our environments; how we grow up and the conditions we grow up in help determine who we are today. For instance, someone can be a bitter adult due to a poor upbringing or a selfish adult because of a spoiled childhood.

The opposing view of this is that we have genetic predispositions that shape who we are. It's in our genes to like or dislike something; we're already programmed to be a certain way. Scientists have looked into this study by observing twins who have grown up in different environments. Theoretically, if nature wins out, they should be very similar people; however, if nurture is the dominant factor, they would be completely different people.

Homelife, culture, and peers definitely play a role in the makeup of a person. But then there are people like Oskar Stohr and Jack Yufe, identical twins reared apart. One was raised as a Catholic and a Nazi while the other was raised in the Caribbean as a Jew. They both liked sweet liqueur and spicy food, tended to fall asleep while watching television, flushed the toilet before using it, kept rubber bands on their wrists, and had quick tempers. When they met, they were both wearing blue, double-breasted shirts, mustaches, and wire-rimmed glasses.

And this might seem like a freakish coincidence, but it's not an anomaly. Among other examples, there are also the two Jims; twins reared apart named Jim who had sons named James, first wives named Linda and second wives named Betty, dogs named Toy, vasectomies, a woodworking hobby, fondness for Miller Lite, chain- smoking habit, and more similarities they shared.

It seems that nature wins this debate. But I didn't need studies to tell me that. I learned it in a letter.

I don't resent my parents because I'm not able to relate to them. What used to bother me was my brother. It's clear to see that Gerald Singleton King, Jr. is my father's son. They have matching hot-heads and hairlines and a knack for business. My brother borrowed my dad's eyes and my grandpa's height to become who he is. And when you turn to my mom, you can see how G.J. has her social skill and empathetic demeanor.

Then there is me. The shortest person in my entire extended family, the only blue-eyed girl, the sort of person to read Infinite Jest for fun while everyone else has a magazine in their hands. My entire family always told me I was an artist, but I'm pretty sure that's because they didn't know what else to call me.

I always wanted to do something different, and I'm not sure if that's because I was already labeled as different or because I genuinely wanted to. But then my brother went to Brown University and then to Stanford. I had no room to do something awesome because my brother was better; my brother was biological.

It took me a while to stop comparing myself to G.J. I stepped back and remembered: Yeah, I'm different. We don't share the same biological source, so how can my brain cells compare to his?

And I have to remember. It doesn't happen often, but I have to remember that my parents aren't useless. I know I take them for granted; every suburban teenager does.

If they didn't raise me Christian, I wouldn't have found my voice through atheism. If they didn't provide for me well, I wouldn't feel the need to provide well for others. If they didn't teach me the laws of the world, I wouldn't know how to rebel against them. While I found solace in the letters, I had to remember—have to remember—that my ability to relate to strangers doesn't compromise the fact that my parents are, and always will be, superior because they raised me.

Richard is rather poignant. All bio-fathers should be as cool as Richard. No one has ever told me that I'm special the way Richard is telling me I'm special. He writes, "Your existence in this world means a lot to me. It's difficult to put into exactly the right words, but it's kind of like... When you were born, it validated my existence. No matter what I did or did not accomplish from that point forward, there would always be you."

I think I needed Richard's letter more than Chimene's letter. Maybe that's because I was able to relate to him so well, and I needed a father figure to relate to. My dad always had my brother; they bonded over sports and muscle. And I had my mom, which was fine.

But I think I rejected my dad a lot, not only because he was sports-crazed, and I wasn't, but also because I only ever remember the bad things about him. Like the time he threw mashed potatoes in my hair at Thanksgiving. Or whenever he would yell something rude at me, then adopt a gentlemanly Southern accent for his customers on the phone. Or when I called 911 when he collapsed unconscious on the stairs and never received a thank you.

I'm not saying I needed a father figure or that Richard would fulfill that gap I (perhaps) have in my psyche left over from an unrequited relationship that was never really formed. The bottom line is, it's nice to hear that I'm special.

My mom told me she's scared that when I'm upset, I lock myself in my room and look at the battered envelope and dream of a life with a family that would accept me. I don't. I hadn't even touched the envelope for a second time until last week, trying to write this paper and remember why my bio-parents are still important to me.

I wanted to meet them when I was younger. I wanted to live a different life when Hinsdale was too small or too dull for me. I dreamed of the day I would turn 18 and find them wherever they were lurking. It frightened me to think that there were people walking and talking and living out there who came together under erroneous circumstances of which I was a product.

I struggled with the idea that I had two sets of parents, four sets of grandparents, double order of everything, and I'd never get the chance to know half of them. It didn't seem fair that there were two people whose blood I shared living normal lives without me. I never grasped the phrase "blood is thicker than water," because I didn't know whose blood ran in my veins.

I understand my mom's fear that I might get along with my bio-parents if I met them and abandon her to have a hunky-dory relationship. But I think my mom's fear is irrational. She's my mom. It's not as though I'd go running off with some woman I didn't know only because she gave birth to me.

My biological mother wasn't the person I talked to every day after school about my day. She wasn't the person that drove me to all the soccer games I never even played in. She wasn't the person who bought my Christmas presents, who wasn't afraid to touch me when I got the flu because I was stubborn and didn't want a flu shot, who searched online for weeks to find a replacement for my striped Ralph Lauren comforter that I ripped unintentionally while taking a nap. Chimene had nothing to do with my life, nor did she have the right to, because she had never been a part of my life.

I don't know whether or not I want to meet them now. I'm not sure I could stand the humility. "Oh, hi, my name is Maz, and I think I'm your daughter." Yeah, I'm sure Hollywood has already covered that conversation.

And I feel as though I'd be an inconvenience. Out of nowhere, a daughter of sorts comes into their lives. I know they basically plopped right down into my life with that envelope, but I needed to know who they were; I needed just a little bit of information about them in order to accept myself and the differences between my family and me.

If we reversed the scenario, if I contact them, I would feel obligated to keep talking to them, or else it would be too awkward to have a potentially life-changing encounter, only for communication to fizzle out after one or two meetings. And I'm sure that's a hassle, for both them and me, as well as my parents. I don't think my mom could handle it; all her fears would come creeping back, and horrid little ideas would form in her mind in my absence.

But, most importantly, I don't see the point in getting to know my bio-parents anymore. When I was little, I nearly begged for a different life. And now I'm off to college in a semester—I'm forced to have a different life. I don't feel that longing anymore, the sort of longing that requires endless amounts of hoping and pining for something not quite in your reach.

Because the thing is, I'm sure my bio-parents are wonderful people. They sound like wonderful people. But I don't need or want their approval. I don't need or want a relationship with them. I know they exist. And that's enough for now.

Paul C Holinger M.D.

Paul C. Holinger, M.D., M.P.H. , a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, is a professor of psychiatry at Rush University Medical Center and author of What Babies Say Before They Can Talk .

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Essay on Adoption

Students are often asked to write an essay on Adoption in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Adoption

Understanding adoption.

Adoption is when a person or a couple becomes the legal parent of a child who is not their biological child. This process gives the child all the rights and privileges of a biological child. It’s an act of love and kindness, offering a child a secure home and family.

Types of Adoption

There are different types of adoption. The first is domestic adoption, where a child is adopted within the same country. The second is international adoption, where a child from another country is adopted. The third type is foster care adoption, where a foster child is adopted.

Benefits of Adoption

Adoption benefits everyone involved. The child gets a loving family and a secure home. The adoptive parents get the joy of raising a child. Society also benefits as every child that is adopted is one less child without a home.

Adoption Process

The adoption process can be long and difficult. It involves a lot of paperwork and legal work. The adoptive parents need to prove they can provide a safe and loving home for the child. Once everything is approved, the child becomes a legal part of the family.

Adoption Challenges

Even though adoption is a beautiful thing, it can come with challenges. These can include adjusting to a new family, dealing with the child’s past trauma, and facing society’s views on adoption. But with love and patience, these challenges can be overcome.

250 Words Essay on Adoption

What is adoption.

Adoption is a process where a person takes the responsibility of a child whose biological parents cannot care for them. The person who adopts becomes the child’s legal parent and gives them all the love, care, and support they need.

Why People Choose Adoption

People choose to adopt for many reasons. Some people cannot have their own children. Others want to provide a home for a child in need. Some people adopt to expand their families. Each person has their unique reason for adopting a child.

There are different types of adoption. In ‘open adoption’, the child may still have contact with their biological parents. ‘Closed adoption’ means no contact with biological parents. ‘Foster to adopt’ is when a child is placed in a temporary home before being adopted.

Adoption benefits everyone involved. The child gets a loving home. The adoptive parents get to share their life with a child. It also helps society by making sure every child has a family.

Challenges of Adoption

Adoption can also be challenging. It can take a long time and involve many legal steps. Adopted children may also have emotional issues due to their past experiences.

In conclusion, adoption is a beautiful process that brings families together. It can be challenging, but the joy of providing a child with a loving home makes it all worthwhile. Adoption is not just about becoming a parent, it’s about giving a child a chance at a better life.

500 Words Essay on Adoption

Adoption is a process where a person takes the responsibility of parenting a child from the child’s biological parents. This process creates a permanent change in status and transfers all rights and responsibilities from the biological parents to the adoptive parents.

Reasons for Adoption

Many reasons lead people to adopt. Some people cannot have their own children due to medical issues. Others adopt to provide a stable family life to children in need. There are also people who adopt to bring more children into their families and to give their biological children siblings.

The Adoption Process

Adoption is not a quick or easy process. It involves many steps. First, the potential adoptive parents must show they are fit to raise a child. They must prove they have a stable home, are financially secure, and are mentally and physically able to care for a child. This is often done through home studies and interviews conducted by social workers.

Once approved, the adoptive parents are matched with a child. This can take a long time, depending on many factors. After the match, there is a period where the child and parents get to know each other. If all goes well, the court finalizes the adoption.

There are different types of adoption. Domestic adoption is when a child is adopted within the same country. International adoption involves adopting a child from a different country. In open adoption, the biological parents can stay in contact with the child and adoptive parents. In closed adoption, the records are sealed, and the biological parents have no contact with the child.

Adoption benefits everyone involved. For the child, it provides a loving and stable family. It gives them the chance to grow up in a safe environment, where they can thrive. For the adoptive parents, it fulfills their desire to have a child. It brings joy and completeness to their family. For the biological parents, it can provide relief knowing their child is in a good home.

Despite its benefits, adoption can also present challenges. Adopted children may struggle with feelings of loss or questions about their identity. Adoptive parents may face difficulties in bonding with the child or addressing the child’s emotional needs. It’s important for adoptive families to seek support and guidance to navigate these challenges.

Adoption is a special journey that brings families together. It’s a process that requires patience, understanding, and love. While it can present challenges, the rewards of providing a child with a loving home are immeasurable. Adoption is a testament to the fact that family is not just about blood relations, but also about love, respect, and care.

In conclusion, adoption is a beautiful process that can bring immense happiness to both the child and the adoptive parents. It is a life-changing decision that should be made with great care and consideration. The joy of giving a child a loving home and a bright future is truly priceless.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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The Benefits of Adoption – 5 Reasons to Adopt a Child

If you ask adoptive parents “ Why adopt? “, they might show you a photo of the first time they met their son. They might tell the story of the summer they taught their daughter to swim, or describe the sound of their children laughing and playing together in their backyard.

Every parent has their own personal reasons for adopting, but at its core, the advantage of adoption is simple: it builds families.

Why Do People Adopt?

Adoptive parents come from many different backgrounds and have varied reasons for adoption. Some common reasons to choose adoption include:

  • The adoptive couple has struggled with infertility and cannot safely carry a child on their own to term
  • The adoptive parent is single and is ready to start a family
  • The adoptive parents are a same-sex couple who want to raise a child together

The Benefits of Adopting a Child

While many adoptive parents choose adoption as a practical means to start their family, the effects of adoption are often more profound and rewarding than they ever could have imagined. Adoption benefits families in countless ways:

  • Adoption gives hopeful parents the opportunity to raise a child they wouldn’t have otherwise
  • For couples struggling with infertility, adoption is a guaranteed way to add a child to their family, without the emotional and financial risk involved in IVF treatments
  • Adoption allows couples and single adults to share their life with a child and enjoy the unique experience of parenthood
  • Adoption builds rewarding, meaningful relationships between adoptive families and birth parents
  • Adoption provides loving, stable homes to children who need them

While there are many reasons to consider adoption, it is not for everyone. Every family should consider the pros and cons of adoption, as well as their own readiness to raise an adopted child, before beginning the process.

Are You Ready for Adoption?

There are many advantages of adoption, but adding to your family is a big decision. If you are considering adoption, you want to make sure that it is a good fit for your family before beginning the process. This may lead you to ask, Should I adopt a child? Is adoption right for me?

Here are five questions to ask yourself as you consider whether you are ready to begin the adoption process:

  • Do I meet the legal requirements to adopt in North Carolina? Any adult may be eligible to adopt in North Carolina. However, you will need to complete a thorough home study process before you will be approved to adopt a child.
  • Can I afford adoption? Adoption can be a significant financial investment, with the average domestic adoption costing around $35,000. You should research your adoption financing options and create a realistic adoption budget to ensure you are financially prepared for the process. There is a federal adoption tax credit to help with expenses and some employers offer financial assistance. There are also benefits through the U.S. Military.
  • Am I emotionally ready to adopt? You and your partner must both be fully emotionally invested in the adoption process and be prepared for all of its emotional highs and lows. If you have struggled with infertility, this means you need to give yourself time to grieve and let go of your dream of having a baby biologically before beginning the process.
  • Am I ready to be a parent? It is easy to get so caught up in the adoption process that you lose sight of the big picture: parenthood. Adoption is a lifelong process , and you have to be certain that you are ready not only to adopt, but also to raise a child.
  • Why adopt a child? Some of the most important factors to consider before beginning the adoption process are your own reasons to adopt a child. Why is adopting a child a good idea for your family?

If you are struggling to decide whether adoption is right for your family, or if you want to learn more about the adoption process for hopeful parents, contact A Child’s Hope to speak with one of our experienced adoption counselors.

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The Benefits of Adopting a Child

The Benefits of Adopting a Child

Deciding to adopt a child is a significant choice that offers invaluable rewards. Each family’s experience is unique, but the journey is transformative. From the fulfillment of providing a loving home to the joy of parenthood, the benefits are boundless. Let’s dive into the process and explore the benefits of child adoption.

Adoption Fulfills Lifelong Dreams of Parenthood

For many individuals and couples, parenthood is the ultimate aspiration. Adopting a child realizes this dream, ushering in a world of possibilities and cherished memories. Every moment of caring for a child fulfills dreams and creates strong family bonds.

Experience the Blessing of Parenthood

While the adoption process may be challenging, the outcome is worth it. Whether it’s welcoming your first child or expanding yourg family, joy knows no bounds. Each day as a parent becomes brighter, and the future brims with promise with the addition of a child.

Forge Meaningful Relationships

An oft-overlooked benefit of adoption is the opportunity to connect with the child’s birth parents. This bond, if nurtured positively, enriches the adoption experience. Understanding the child’s background fosters empathy and lays the foundation for a nurturing home environment.

Adoption can also offer birth parents a chance for personal growth and fulfillment. Knowing their child is embraced by a loving family provides solace and encouragement to pursue their aspirations.

Adoption Often Establishes Stable Routines

Structured routines are essential for a child’s well-being, providing security and stability. By adopting a regular schedule, you create an environment conducive to growth and development. Research indicates that a chaotic household can lead to various issues for children , emphasizing the importance of stability.

Embracing a structured lifestyle enhances the child’s quality of life while cultivating a peaceful and productive home environment.

Adopting a Child Can Open You to Cultural Experiences

International adoption opens doors to diverse cultural experiences. Celebrating elements of the child’s heritage fosters a sense of identity and belonging. By immersing yourself in the child’s culture, you create a nurturing environment that celebrates diversity.

Explore New Interests

Adopting a child introduces a world of exploration and discovery. Encouraging unstructured play and embracing new activities fosters creativity and growth. Stepping outside your comfort zone alongside your child cultivates mutual learning and strengthens familial bonds.

Continuous Personal Growth

Parenthood challenges and enriches one’s beliefs and perspectives. Embracing a growth mindset facilitates adaptability and resilience. By nurturing your child’s unique learning style , you embark on a journey of self-discovery and mutual understanding.

Enhanced Quality of Life Through Adoption

Positive reinforcement and encouragement create a nurturing atmosphere within the family. By prioritizing optimism and support, you cultivate a harmonious home that extends beyond familial boundaries . Despite the challenges, parenthood brings unparalleled joy and fulfillment.

Improved Health & Well-being

Adopting a child inspires positive lifestyle changes that benefit the entire family. From nutritious meals to structured routines, fostering a healthy environment fosters physical and emotional well-being. Embracing parenthood cultivates a holistic approach to wellness for both child and parent.

Access to Adoption Assistance

Raising a child entails financial responsibilities, but adoption offers valuable assistance . Tax credits and employer benefits alleviate some of the financial burdens associated with adoption. These resources support adoptive families in providing a loving and stable home environment

For more information on this subject, view the IRS page on Topic 607 – Adoption Credit and Adoption Assistance Programs here .

Embracing the Benefits of Adopting a Child

Child adoption is a journey of love, growth, and endless possibilities. By opening your heart and home to a child, you embark on a cathartic path that enriches lives and builds enduring bonds. Embrace the rewards of parenthood and embark on this extraordinary adventure of adoption.

To learn more about how you can foster-adopt a child, visit our website.

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Difference Between Foster Care and Adoption

Celebrities Who Adopted

The Importance of Bonding with an Adoptive Child

5 Adoption Stories That Will Melt Your Heart

Psychological Effects of Being Adopted on Child Development

benefits of adoption essay

Privacy Overview

Adoption Process and Its Benefits Research Paper

The world is currently home to about seven billion people. A significant portion of this number comprises orphans, children from street families and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. At the same time, millions of unplanned pregnancies occur across the world every year. Most of the children who are born from such pregnancies together with all categories of vulnerable children are potential beneficiaries of adoption. Meanwhile, there are thousands of people seeking to take in a child as their own all over the world. In America, research indicates that six out of every ten people have had a personal experience with adoption (Gebhardt 423).

Thus, adoption is important because it gives children from disadvantaged backgrounds a chance to live normal lives while simultaneously helping infertile couples to become parents. Unfortunately, the legislations governing abortion are quite specific about who can adopt and who cannot. They, in effect, deter many people from adopting children, yet some of them could make good adoptive parents.

Whereas some of these restrictions seek to ensure that adopted children move to better conditions, they do not serve the intended purpose all the time (Moye and Rinker 375). Adoption should not be based upon, whether the adopting family is black, white, green, purple, or whichever race there is. Rather, it should be based on an objective evaluation of each individual’s or family’s ability to give the adopted child a good life.

The race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or even religion should not have any effect on the family a child is placed with because it is not plausible to rigidly assume that these characteristics define people. For example, while it is true that the average annual income of white families is higher than that of black families, it is not sensible to use this disparity as basis to conclude that black families do not have the financial capacity to adopt.

Adoption gives a second chance to families that are going through difficulties and for some reason, cannot bear a child. Additionally, some families cannot afford the procedures necessary to conceive artificially and adoption becomes the easiest and most cost effective way to give them a child. Adoption gives such families the opportunity to become parents who can learn, grow with the child, and build special bonds (Farr and Patterson 189). The individual or family a child is placed with notwithstanding, they can still become a prodigy depending on how they are raised and the type of bonds shared with them.

In addition, the morals and values the adoptive parent instills in the child are the real determinants of the person the child will become in the future. Many of America’s icons such as Jesse Jackson, Steve Jobs, John Lennon, Jamie Foxx, Marylyn Munroe, and Bill Clinton among numerous others grew up as adopted children. No one knows if they would have become the people America is so proud of today were it not for the opportunities that were availed to them by their adoptive parents. This assertion is not to be construed to mean that a child has to be adopted to make it big in life.

Rather, it underscores the idea that through adoption, otherwise disadvantaged children are exposed to whole array of new possibilities, and if they are hardworking as most of them often turn out, there are no limits to what they can achieve. This trend is attributable to the idea that adopted children, tend to seek ways of pleasing their adoptive parents (Gebhardt 425). The results of that effort are dazzling achievements.

As such, the issues that really matter and should be considered during adoption should be the parents’ ability to provide the right environment for the adoptee to grow in and become the person they were supposed to be in life. Adoptive parents should be able to develop healthy bonds with the adopted child because having a bond between children and parents is critical for holistic development. It is important for the adoptive family to make the child feel at home.

This requirement is not easy to meet once the adoption process is complete. Therefore, it is important for adoptive parents to understand that adopting a child and caring for them until they are old enough to be independent is no mean task.

The process begins with realizing that adoption can work for the family. This realization is crucial because sometimes adoption comes with challenges that if a family is not ready to go all out, they may give up on the child. The adoptive parents therefore have to be ready to care for a child who is not biologically theirs under any circumstance that may arise. Adoption agencies have guidelines and regulations that can give adoptive parents insight into how they should care for the child.

It is however important that they conduct a thorough check including background checks before they allow anyone to adopt. Some bizarre cases have been reported where abusive adoptive parents initially pose as good people only to turn hostile and even sexually abusive after the adoption. These are realities that must not be ignored when dealing with adoption. However, with such eventualities in mind, it is an irrefutable fact that race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation do not have any influence on parenting skills.

A parent with the right heart will do anything and everything for their child. They will provide the love and comfort that is needed at all times. They also need to have a sense of humor that can enable them to laugh through the difficult and stressful times that come with parenting. Further, a parent needs a sense of perspective. Successful adoptive parents are those who take one day at a time. They should be able to say, “Today was hell, but tomorrow is bound to be better.”

Finally, adoptive parents should have a good support system including a team of friends and family members to support and help with the adopted child. Adopted children require affection and nurture to a level they have never received.

It is essential that families greet the child with loving and welcoming arms and give them unconditional love because loving a child is the greatest gift that can ever be given to them, yet that is what they often lack before they are adopted. Looking at these requirements, it is apparent that they can be met without considering race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Thus, these factors should not be a basis for granting or denying an adoption.

Works Cited

Farr, Rachel H., and Charlotte J. Patterson. “Transracial adoption by lesbian, gay, and heterosexual couples: Who completes transracial adoptions and with what results?” Adoption Quarterly 12.3-4 (2009): 187-204. Print.

Gebhardt, Georgia. “Hello Mommy And Daddy, How In The World Did They Let You Become My Parents?” Family Law Quarterly 46.3 (2012): 419-449. Academic Search Complete . Web. 26 Feb. 2015.

Moye, Jim, and Roberta Rinker. “It’s a Hard Knock Life: Does the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 Adequately Address Problems in the Child Welfare System?.” Harv. J. on Legis. 39 (2002): 375. Print.

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Benefits of Adoption [And How They Affect You]

There are benefits of adoption for everyone involved:

Birth parents giving their baby the best life possible

Adoptive parents being able to start or add to their family

Adoptees getting the gift of a loving and supportive family

Adoption isn’t an easy thing to do, but most things worth doing aren’t easy. And while everyone involved in the adoption process will experience  unique challenges , there will also be unique  adoption benefits . These are not temporary advantages but rather life-changing positives that come with being a part of something so important. If that sounds like something you want to experience, you can call 1-800-ADOPTION at any time.

American Adoptions is proud of the benefits of adoption our agency can bring, and we are happy to explain them anytime. If you want to learn more about modern benefits of adoption,  get free information online  now.

In the meantime, learn a bit more about  this topic  below.

Birth Mother Benefits in Adoption

Placing a child for adoption  is undoubtedly one of the hardest decisions you can make. So, what are the benefits of “giving a baby up” for adoption that make the choice worth it?

Giving life to your baby

Doing what is best for your life

Having an ongoing connection to your child

Adoption benefits the birth mother as much as anyone, if not more.

Unexpectedly learning that you are pregnant can be one of the most stressful times you can ever endure. The pregnancy can halt your education, career and other goals you may have. On top of that, you may not have the finances or a partner in your life to help raise the child, making your situation  more difficult .

These reasons  are why you might be selflessly choosing adoption for your baby. You may consider raising the child yourself, but if you’re considering adoption, it’s because you want your baby to grow up in the best possible situation, with prepared parents who are ready to offer every opportunity to him or her. And while it is common to hear that a woman is “giving up” a baby for adoption, the truth is that choosing  adoption is not giving up  or simply “giving your baby away.”

Adoption gives a child a chance at life .

“Adoption has changed my life for the better. I’m able to be a part of my son’s life, while also gaining new family in Katie and Andy,” said Rebecca, a grateful birth mother . “We hit it off instantly and they became a huge support in any choice I made. I chose to place my son to a family through adoption, but adoption truly chose me.”

Adoption provides you with the chance to do what is best for your life and also give your baby an opportunity to have a wonderful future. And, thanks to  open adoption , it’s possible for you to have a lifelong relationship with the baby you place for adoption.

Birth mother benefits in adoption  can be great . Adoption can grant you a second chance at receiving an education and fulfilling your goals, while creating the opportunity for your child to be raised in a home with a loving family who have always dreamed of being parents.

For most birth mothers, knowing that their child is safe and happy is the biggest  benefit to adoption  of all.

Helpful Information

Benefits of adoption for the child.

We’ve covered the benefits of adoption for adoptive and birth parents. But adoption is all about the child at the center of the journey. What exactly are  the adoption benefits for the child  involved?

A loving family

A life of opportunity

The chance to fulfill dreams

While there’s no way to say for certain that an adoptee always has a “better life” with adoptive parents, in most cases, adoption creates space for a child to grow, to thrive and to fulfill his or her dreams — opportunities that their birth parents wanted for them, even if they weren’t able to provide them at the time. One of the biggest  benefits of adoption  for the child is the chance at a meaningful life filled with love, thanks to the relationship they have with both their adoptive and birth parents.

“My family — both birth and adoptive — didn’t hold back. There is a lot more to adoption than the loss of a birth parent’s child, or the adoptive parent’s gain of a child. Love and loss are mushed together, and so are the families. I’m somewhere mushed in the middle. Pretty content to be there,” said Diana, an adoptee and American Adoptions staff member.

Of course, there are  specific challenges  that a child who has been adopted may face. But simply being provided with a safe household and loving parents is immensely important to a successful life.

Perhaps more important is the fact that a child who comes home through adoption knows she has two parents who love her, as well as a biological mother who loves her so much that she selflessly chose the best life possible for her child. In fact, thanks to open adoption, many adoptees  have personal relationships  with their birth parents for the rest of their lives.

Benefits of Adoption for Adoptive Parents

Obviously, the biggest  benefits of adopting a child  involve getting to be parents. But there are more adoption benefits than that for adoptive parents. Many of our clients report the following advantages when choosing adoption:

The joy of starting a family

The opportunity to raise and love a child

A meaningful relationship with the potential birth parents

Hopeful parents come to choose adoption for a variety of reasons. A significant number of couples work their whole lives to prepare to start a family, but are met with the painful  struggles of infertility . Others may be  LGBTQ couples  who dream of starting a family through adoption or surrogacy. Still, there are other hopeful parents who could have children biologically but see adoption as a beautiful opportunity to love and care for a child.

Whatever path has brought you to adoption, it may not have been easy. We want anyone considering adoption to know that there are real benefits of adopting a child, and you can experience those benefits.

The joy of starting a family is difficult to describe. It’s a clarifying moment — something that makes anyone realize what really matters in life. At American Adoptions, one of the best things about helping thousands of hopeful parents complete an adoption is seeing the joy on a new parent’s face when they hold their baby for the first time.

But, of course, that is really only the beginning of the journey and one of the earliest  benefits to adoption .

The chance to raise a child, to watch them grow and do everything possible to help them thrive, is a wonderful opportunity. Even though it may not feel like it sometimes — like when a baby decides 3 a.m. is their new favorite time to be awake or a teenager is in an inexplicably bad mood — parenting a child from infancy to adulthood is one of the most amazing benefits of domestic adoption.

Throughout this whole journey, you have a chance to establish a meaningful relationship with your child’s birth parents through  open adoption . This idea may seem scary at first, but open adoption is becoming increasingly common, and many people will tell you about  how great it has been  in their lives.

“You never can imagine how much love you can have in your heart until you experience it,” Ryan said . “We didn’t realize we could love someone so much until she came into our lives, and we’re really thankful to have the opportunity and that she’s with us now.” All of this takes hard work, but the benefits for adoptive parents continue through life. Every smile, laugh, birthday party, new accomplishment and special moment shared with a child is a reminder of how incredible parenting is and how long-lasting the benefits of adoption really are. 

Whether you’re an expectant mother or hopeful parents considering adoption, you deserve the best information about every aspect of adoption — including the modern benefits of domestic adoption. Our agency is here to help. You can call 1-800-ADOPTION at any time to speak with an adoption specialist, or you can get more free information  anytime.

Disclaimer Information available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. American Adoptions provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.

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Benefits of Adoption

Adoption is a life-changing experience that can have an incredible impact on everyone involved in the process.  Not only does it benefit the adoptive parents, who have often tried for years to add to their families, but also the birth parents and, most importantly, the adopted child.

Whether you are facing an unplanned pregnancy or s truggling to add to your family , there are countless reasons to consider adoption. Here, learn more about the benefits of adoption so you can make an informed decision about what is right for you and your family.

Adoption Benefits the Birth Mother and Birth Father

For many birth parents, choosing adoption is one of the most difficult decisions of a lifetime — but it can also provide countless benefits. For expectant mothers, adoption:

  • Enables them to continue pursuing their goals without putting their education or career on hold.
  • Relieves the financial and emotional stress of unplanned pregnancy and single parenting, and allows them to receive help with living expenses during their pregnancy.
  • Provides assurance that their child will be raised by pre-screened adoptive parents who will provide a safe, stable, loving and nurturing home.
  • Makes the dream come true for hopeful parents who would not be able to have a child otherwise.
  • Gives them access to important services and resources, including professional counseling and support services, at no cost.
  • Provides the option to stay in touch with the child through open or semi-open adoption.
  • Offers access to a support group of birth mothers who will share their experiences with you.
  • All legal expenses and attorney fees will be paid for you.

Adoption Benefits the Child

More than 90 percent of adopted children have positive feelings about their adoption. They understand that adoption is something special and that they are loved by their adoptive families as well as their birth parents. Adopted children:

  • Are placed with families who have planned, prepared and have completed the home study process to ensure they are ready to provide a stable, loving home.
  • Grow up with opportunities they may not have had otherwise, such as the chance to attend college.
  • Know they are loved not only by their adoptive families, but also by the birth parents who selflessly placed them for adoption to provide them with a better life.
  • Have better health, more one-on-one attention from their parents, and improved school performance compared to children in the general population according to studies.

Benefits for the Adoptive Family

Adopting parents are motivated to adopt by their dream to become parents. For these hopeful families, adoption:

  • Enables them to become parents when they may not have been able to otherwise.
  • Gives them the joyful opportunity to raise a child in need of a loving, stable home.
  • Grants them the opportunity to observe and experience aspects of pregnancy and related experiences that would not otherwise be possible.

Today’s adoption options allow birth mothers and adoptive families to come together to make positive choices that not only benefit each other, but also their children, extended family members, neighbors, teachers, and anyone else who is touched by their adoption story.

More helpful articles:

  • The Adoption Process for Birth Parents
  • Financial Assistance for Adoption
  • Adoption Options
  • Adoption Questions to Ask Yourself

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benefits of adoption essay

Adoption’s Positive Impacts on the Adoptee

by Adoption Choices of Colorado | Jan 17, 2020 | Blog , Uncategorized | 0 comments

We often talk about the impact adoption has on a child. Unfortunately, this means jumping to the negatives. How adoption supposedly damages a child’s identity and self-esteem. Or how it can cause him or her grief, loss and physical and emotional trauma. But there is so much more to adoption. Countless good things. Positives. In fact, 9 out of 10 adoptees experience adoption’s positive impacts. These include, but are not limited to: a stable home environment, better mental and behavioral health and success in personal and educational endeavors.

Adoption provides children with the opportunity to have a life that their birth parents wanted for them. A life that is enriched with blessings and love.

Stable Home Environment

One of adoption’s positive impacts on a child is that it provides him or her with a stable home environment. Whether it is in terms of having the physical or financial resources that he or she would not have been able to receive. Or more financial and emotional support if he or she was born with special needs. Children who are adopted are loved and a part of a family, just like any other type of family model. Statistics show that over 50 percent of adopted children eat dinner multiple times a week with their family, and adopted children who regularly have family dinners are at a lower risk for substance abuse. Overall, a stable home environment for an adoptee greatly affects other areas of their life such as behavioral and mental health, educational and personal successes.

Mental Health

Due to adoptive parent(s)’ financial stability, adoptees are more likely to benefit health-wise. Having adequate health insurance and regular checkups makes a big difference. Adoptive parents who can provide a healthy support system for emotional and mental needs is another way adoption positively impacts the adoptee. Through their parent(s)’ network of support (i.e. themselves, teachers, doctors, therapists, friends/family and other advocates), the adoptee has access to work through any mental health issues that may come up.

Behavioral Health

On average, children who live in a home of two parents, a single parent or same-sex parents exhibit fewer behavioral problems and have more stable and healthy relationships later in life. Even though ⅔ of adopted children have a two-parent home and ⅓ have single-parent or same-sex parent homes, each type of parent model can provide a stable family environment. This allows the child to gain self-confidence and have the ability to create healthy boundaries and work through trauma. Overall, this positively affects the child’s well-being and allows him or her to be just as well-adjusted as their peers. While each parent model comes with its own set of challenges, they all support the child having a more stable home environment, which, in turn, leads to better behavioral and mental health.

Educational and Personal Success

Adopted children are more likely to have better educational and personal success due to the financial security and support of their adoptive parents. Adoption allows them to reach whatever goal they set; therefore, giving them the opportunity to be involved in more extracurricular activities inside and outside of childcare/school. In addition, adopted children are likely to have help setting healthy goals and guidelines to be successful and accomplish more. Statistics show 69 percent of adopted children are engaged in school, care about doing well in school and regularly do homework.

Children thrive by having parents who lead by example. Parents who illustrate habits of having the choice and freedom to make decisions that help accomplish goals in life. Showing their child steps to achieve goals, stay motivated and how to handle situations of adversity that they may come across. Thus, impacting an adoptee positively by instilling healthy habits and objectives for them to take with them throughout life.

The Positive Impacts of Adoption

Overall, adoption has many outcomes on a child; however, the positives far outweigh the negatives. Having a stable home environment, strong behavioral and mental health, and educational and personal successes are only the tip of the iceberg. Many more exist. We encourage you to explore and learn all you can. Share with us any other ways you have seen adoption’s positive impacts on an adoptee in the comments below! We’d love to hear from you.

For, the truth is, adoption’s positive impacts on your child will last a lifetime, allowing your son or daughter to thrive and grow into a healthy, well-rounded and independent adult.

Adoption Choices of Colorado

For more information on adoption please contact Adoption Choices of Colorado . We can be reached via our website or phone 303-670-4401.

About the Author

Taylor Tsakopulos

She is a jack of all trades (i.e. a Gemini ). She is a Denver-based writer, creator, artist and student. A graduate from Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU).

When she isn’t creating content she’s off dancing and hiking. Always chasing after new things and experiences. After living and working in Europe she is hungry for more.

———

Adopting a Child Benefits. (2019). Retrieved December 9, 2019, from https://adoptionnetwork.com/benefits-of-adopting-a-child.

Benefits of Adoption – Adoption Choice Inc. (n.d.). Retrieved December 9, 2019, from https://adoptionchoiceinc.org/im-pregnant/benefits-of-adoption/.

Effects of Adoption on Children. (2015, May 27). Retrieved December 9, 2019, from https://www.adoptionmakesfamily.org/blog/effects-of-adoption-on-children/.

Minella, K. (2019, July 25). 10 Benefits of Adopting A Child. Retrieved December 9, 2019, from https://minellalawgroup.com/10-benefits-of-adopting-a-child/.

Oak, M. (2018, February 23). The Good and Not-so-good Effects of Adoption on Kids and Adults. Retrieved December 9, 2019, from https://aptparenting.com/the-effects-of-adoption.

Rosenhaus, N. (2016, June 24). Benefits of Adoption for Children. Retrieved December 9, 2019, from https://adoptionswithlove.org/birth-parents/benefits-of-adoption-infographic.

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benefits of adoption essay

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  2801 Youngfield Street, Suite 320, Golden, CO. 80401

The State of Colorado requires 16 hours of face-to face training for all families adopting domestically.

We require that this is completed prior to the placement of a child in your home. The cost of this class is $1250 per weekend and is scheduled with our office. The Agency offers these trainings once a month.

Included in this training are guest speakers and a newborn trainer.

2022/2023 Training Dates Available

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Please contact us for more information and to reserve your spot in a class.

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benefits of adoption essay

Nicole is thrilled to transition into the Paralegal role within the Adoption Choices team! With pervious adoption experience she understands the importance of working with people in a more intimate capacity. It takes all members of the triad to help assist with a positive adoption experience on all ends–both Expecting Parents and Hopeful Adoptive Parents. With a BA in Women’s Studies, she brings patience, strong interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to empathize without judgment. Nicole is a Chicago Native and just relocated out to Colorado in February 2021. Outside of work, she enjoys, traveling as much as possible, attending concerts, cheering on her Chicago sports teams, hiking and enjoying the views of the beautiful Colorado Rockies. Nicole aspires to always be hands on and helping in any way that she can, by creating a supportive environment for others around her.

benefits of adoption essay

Jen joined the Adoption Choices family in 2017 but her journey into the adoption world really began from day #1. As an adoptee, Jen has experienced the life of adoption first-hand. She understands and relates to birthparents and adoptive parents, while always advocating for each baby lovingly considered for adoptive placement.

Jen has had a heart for adoption for as long as she can remember. Empowered by a supportive family, Jen confidently embraced being adopted, becoming an ambassador for adoption. In high school, she was invited to speak on an adoption panel that presented the adoption option to pregnant teens in surrounding high schools. She was also invited to train as a peer counselor, which unofficially began her career in the social work field and officially ignited her passion for building relationships and helping others.

Jen has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Her professional background includes advocating for children in care of the state, implementing case plans, integrating families, and working with foster and adoptive parents. She has experience providing home studies for prospective parents wishing to adopt. Jen also has experience working with at-risk children and families in the public school system, providing counseling and small groups, administering grant programs and conducting trust development training in high school physical education classes.

Jen has a true passion for building relationships with each birth parent and providing hands-on support every step of the way. She has a heart for mentorship and growing leaders. In her free time, Jen loves hiding out in the mountains with her favorite people (and pets). She enjoys making, baking, and adventuring. Jen is dedicated to mindful living and making a positive impact on others. She loves the opportunity to be fulfilling her purpose with the dedicated and caring team at Adoption Choices.

benefits of adoption essay

Our office is located off of I-70 and Youngfield Street.

If you are arriving from westbound I-70:

  •  Take exit 264-Youngfield Street- turn left onto 32nd Avenue (stay in the right turn lane).
  • Turn right onto Youngfield Street.
  •  Continue on Youngfield Street for 0.2 miles.
  • The destination is on your right- 2801 Applewood Tech Center.

If you are arriving from eastbound  I-70:

  •  Take exit 264-Youngfield Street
  • Continue on Youngfield Street for 0.4 miles.

Finding our office inside the building:

If you have parked in the front of the building-once in the main door take the hallway to the left and go to the end of the hall.  Turn right and Adoption Choices of Colorado is the first office on the right-suite 126.

If you have parked in the back of the building- once in the main door take the hallway to the right to the end of the hall.  Turn right and Adoption Choices of Colorado is the first office on the right- suite 126.

  • Orientation
  • Complete initial paperwork packet
  • Choose adoption plan and select the adoptive family for your baby
  • Build relationships specific to your adoption plan
  • Legal services and relinquishment counseling – provided to you at no cost
  • Delivery and hospital support
  • Post-Placement care

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Adoption: Pros & Cons

Deciding to adopt a child is not something to be taken lightly. As with everything in life, there can be advantages and disadvantages of adoption that you will surely want to consider. What, though, are the advantages and disadvantages of adoption?

The biggest advantage or pro of adopting is that the child being adopted receives the gift of a new beginning . Your unconditional love given to a child in need is priceless. A very real disadvantage or con of adoption is the loss and grief the birth mother will experience.

No one family is the same as the other, just as one person’s set of advantages and disadvantages may be completely different from someone else’s.

You may view a specific aspect of adoption as an advantage, while someone else may view that same point as a disadvantage.

What you need to do is research the said pros and cons of adoption and decide for yourself what that means to you and your family.

No one else can decide for you what your views on adoption will be. Still, it is helpful to research others’ points of view to provide you with things to think about to help you form your own opinions.

The fact that you are doing your research shows that you are taking adoption seriously. It is a mistake to blindly think that adoption is a cakewalk.

As is the same mistake to assume that adoption is not a good option for you. Most people find that their opinions fall somewhere in the middle.

Let’s dive into commonly shared opinions on the pros and cons of adoption. Perhaps these considerations will open your mind to aspects of adoption that perhaps you had not yet given any thought to.

Young couple on couch hanging upside down with their child playing.

Considering Adoption

There are so many factors to think about when considering adoption and if it is right for your family.

Whether you have struggled with infertility, wish to adopt as a single parent, or would like to add to your already-growing family in different ways, considering adoption takes time and research.

If you are still healing from the loss of a pregnancy or the struggles of infertility, it is natural to want to take your time deciding if trying other alternatives is the way to go for you and your family.

Before we dive into the advantages and disadvantages of adoption, let me first congratulate you on your willingness to take the time to research the adoption process.

If you are feeling hesitant about adoption or are unsure if adoption is right for you and your family, you are on the right track. Why would I say that?

Being hesitant shows caring and concern for the reality of adoption. Those who have a pie-in-the-sky outlook on how adoption will be are setting themselves up for disappointment.

Of course, adopting a child is a special and memorable experience, and most who adopt do not regret their decision.

And like everything else in life, the reality is much different than a rosy-painted expectation of how things will be in our heads.

The fact that you are here reading this article shows that you are wise enough to realize there will be both pros and cons of adoption.

There will be pitfalls when adopting a child. There will be heartaches. Yet there will also be joys, love, and happiness that can far outweigh it all. You decide.

How much control do adoptive parents have over the type of child they adopt? Learn more here.

How to Decide to Adopt a Child

Deciding to adopt a child is part of the consideration process. But how do you decide to adopt a child?

Deciding to adopt a child requires knowing your reasons for wanting to adopt a child, and deciding which type of adoption is best for you and your family. Understand the adoption requirements so that there are no surprises further into the process, and consider how open you want your adoption to be.

People decide to adopt for a variety of reasons. Some suffer from infertility, while others may wish to add to their already-growing family by adopting a child.

There are times when a pregnancy would put a birth mother’s health in jeopardy, so they may choose adoption rather than taking the physical risk of going through a pregnancy.

So many children require a safe, loving home. Some families choose to adopt simply to know they are providing a child with a better future.

This unselfish act of love runs deep within them, and these adoptive parents many times adopt several children; not just one.

If there is a genetic disease that runs in one’s family, they may decide that adoption makes the most sense so as not to pass down an undesired medical disorder to their offspring.

Perhaps there is a family with all girls, and they wish for a boy. Adoption would give them the ability to grow their family knowing their next child will be the gender they so desperately wish for.

Not everyone has the desire to have countless amounts of children as they roll the dice with fingers and toes crossed hoping the next one will be a boy or a girl .

In our modern days, it is more common to see single parents adopting children. Perhaps they just have not met the right partner, yet their biological clock is ticking. Or, they may not have a desire to find a partner and know they are perfectly capable of raising a child on their own.

You will want to make sure that you have fully researched the adoption requirements in your state to be aware of what will be expected of you before you start your adoption journey.

Whatever your deciding factors are that come into play when you decide to adopt a child, feel confident that you gave ample consideration to your options as well as your reasons for your decision.

Do you have to be married to adopt a child? Learn the ins and outs of adopting a child as a single person.

Pros of Adoption

There are countless pros and advantages of adopting a child. What is gained by the unselfish act of adoption may be viewed differently depending on the family? So what are the pros of adoption?

The pros of adoption range from the love and happiness experienced by adding to one’s family to knowing a child in need has been provided an opportunity for a better life. A family is more than a blood relation. A family that adopts has the advantage of more love to share within.

Pros of adoption:

  • Providing a Loving Home to a Child in Need
  • Experiencing the Joy of Raising a Child
  • Becoming Familiar with a Different Culture
  • A Larger Family Means More Love
  • Birth Mother is Given Peace of Mind
  • The Child Has a Chance at a New Beginning
  • Lifelong Relationship

Not all children who are adopted are newborn babies. Many children who are adopted are a bit older and are being rescued from dysfunctional homes.

Children who end up in the foster care system have many times been either abandoned, neglected, or abused.

These children initially end up in the state’s care and are placed into group homes until a foster home can be found for them.

Once placed into the foster care system, the child’s parents are asked to fulfill certain requirements that will allow them to regain custody of their children. 

Some biological parents complete those requirements and some do not.

The feeling of knowing you are providing a child from trauma a stable, loving home has got to be one of the best feelings one could ever experience in this lifetime.

Starting a family and raising a child can be one of the most exciting accomplishments one will ever achieve.

It is hard to compare the feeling of knowing you are raising your child with love and guidance that will help mold who they will grow up to become.

The closeness, warmth, and love shared within a family unit are priceless and something most of us wish to experience at some point in our lives.

Adoption can make that a reality for those who wish to be a parent.

If you are adopting a child of a different ethnicity or culture, you will get to experience their traditions and culture with them.

Participating in things that bring the culture left behind closer to the child helps the child make a smoother transition and will also help them feel welcome in your home.

Watching documentaries on the culture and traditions of the child’s birthplace can be fun for the whole family, as can reading books and participating in events that revolve around the adopted child’s culture they came from.

Some parents were made to have large families.

The love they feel when sharing their homes and hearts with adopted children only grows with every child they adopt. When we add a new member to our family, even just one, we are adding a person to love into our lives.

And in turn, we have another person to love us.

When a birth mother decides to put her baby up for adoption, she is doing so out of love. For whatever reason, she knows her child will have a better life than the one she can provide herself.

Maybe the birth mother feels she is too young to raise a child. Perhaps a woman finds herself pregnant and realizes she is not cut out to be a parent.

Many different reasons are depending on the circumstances. What is important here is that when a mother puts her child up for adoption, it is done for peace of mind knowing she is doing the best she can for her unborn child.

A child conceived or born in a dysfunctional environment or a level of poverty stands a better chance at a life being adopted by stable, financially secure parents.

Sadly, children are born into abusive households every day, and not all children in need are newborn babies.

When you adopt a child, you are either rescuing a child from a life of trauma and hardship or giving a baby a better chance at life from the very beginning.

This, by far, could be viewed as the best pro and advantage of adoption that there is.

Open adoption means that the adoptive parents and the birth parents or birth mother share information and remain in contact, depending on what is comfortable for both parties involved.

For many, this is considered a positive, no one is left in the dark wondering who the birth parents are, who adopted their child, and so on.

Have you ever wondered if an adopted child can inherit from their biological parents?

Cons of Adoption

As with anything good in life, there is always a flip side that goes along with it. What are the cons of adoption?

The cons of adoption range from the high costs of adoption for the prospective adoptive parents to the pain the birth mother feels when giving up her child for adoption. Even though she knows she is doing the best things for her child, the pain is there and is very real.

Cons of Adoption:

  • Costs of Adoption
  • Birth Mother Will Experience Loss and Grief
  • Extended Family May Not Agree with Adoption
  • Child May Have Mental and Emotional Issues
  • Possible Unknown Medical History
  • Fear Children Will Reunite with Their Birth Parents

There are pros and cons to everything in life, and you must be going into the adoption process fully aware of all angles.

It is no secret that adopting a child can be very expensive. Both domestic and international adoption can range from costing roughly $25,000 to $50,000 to adopt a child.

And if you are entertaining the idea of researching international adoption, you will find that there are added costs that go far beyond what it would cost to adopt domestically.

For example, if you adopt a child out of the country, you will more than likely be required to go back to the country from which you are adopting more than once or twice.

The costs of travel alone can add up to an enormous amount, not to mention the expense of visas required for the travel.

The birth parents are faced with very difficult decisions when they are first contemplating giving their baby up for adoption.

A birth mother carries her child for nine months, surely becoming attached to the baby growing inside of her.

The decision to give one’s baby up for adoption can be a rollercoaster ride, to say the least. One minute, the birth mother might be feeling that she will not let anything stop her from raising her baby.

The next minute, she may be thinking that she cannot provide her baby with what her baby deserves.

Loving a child so much that a birth mother is willing to give the baby to someone else is one of the most selfless acts a mother can ever do for her child.

Birth parents must learn to adjust to life after the birth of the baby knowing they allowed someone else to raise their baby. On one hand, they have a warm feeling knowing they did what was best for their baby.

Time goes by, but the birth parents will never be able to forget they put their child up for adoption.

Even though it may have been in the best interest of the child, that maternal instinct and love never go away.

As a side note, one may also want to be emotionally aware that a birth mother may change her mind, even down to the very last minute.

When sharing your adoption decision with your extended family, be mindful that it might take some time for them to get on board with your decision.

Maybe they secretly had hoped to extend their bloodline. This is viewed as very important in some cultures, especially.

Perhaps they are concerned about the race and ethnicity of the child you adopt. They could be wondering about possible behavioral, emotional, and physical issues that can sometimes come with a child from a previously broken, unstable home.

It goes without saying that when you do not have the family history of an adopted child, you do not know what traumas a child may have endured.

For older children, some of what has happened to the child can be shared by the child themselves. There are times, though, when the child will not feel comfortable sharing his or her trauma history.

Counseling can be huge in helping older adopted children cope with their grief and loss from the possible traumas they have endured throughout their young life.

If you are adopting a baby, this will more than likely not be an issue.

When adopting domestically, the adoptive family is generally provided with the child’s medical and family history.

There are times, however, when the medical and family history is unknown, especially if you are adopting internationally.

This means the child will go through life not knowing their genetic history if they are prone to certain diseases, or what they could be doing day-to-day to help prevent a disease from rearing its ugly head.

A common fear many adoptive parents have is wondering if their adopted child will eventually want to find their birth parents.

Even though the adoptive parents know logically that their adopted child will always know they are their true parents who raised them, the thought of the adopted child and birth parents reuniting brings a deep feeling of insecurity.

In today’s domestic adoptions, it is more common to have somewhat of an open adoption arrangement with the birth mother or both birth parents depending on their comfort level.

For those who prefer to stay away from the concept of open adoption, international adoption may be a better fit. That is not to say that there cannot be closed domestic adoptions.

It all depends on what the birth mother and adoptive parents agree upon.

Home studies are a required part of the adoption process. Learn how to prepare for a home study and shave time off of your lengthy adoption process.

Is Adoption Right For Me?

Only you can decide if adoption is right for you. The decision should be yours and yours alone.

If you are being talked into the decision by a partner and you do not feel comfortable with the decision, speak up. Communicate your fears and concerns.

Are you single and contemplating adoption? Are you worried that the child would need both parents, so you might not proceed?

Although having two parents is a plus, it in no way makes you less of a parent if you decide to raise a child alone.

Do you have extended family that has negative views on your possible decision to adopt? Hear them out and validate their concerns while at the same time respectfully letting them know the decision is ultimately yours.

Chances are, they will come around.

Adopting a child is not right for everyone. In the end, do what you feel is right for you.

And let us not forget that the advantages of adoption affect not only ourselves but also the children who are adopted. Visit Advantages of Adoption for Children , written by a trusted national adoption agency, American Adoptions.

Pros and Cons of Private Adoption

Before we get into the pros and cons of private adoption, we first need to understand what private adoption is.

What is Private Adoption?

Private adoption is when an adoptive family works directly with the birth mother or parents of a child. Private adoption offers numerous benefits, but it also has some disadvantages.

Private adoption is one of the most prevalent kinds of adoption, particularly in the case of infant adoption.

In a private adoption, the birth parent or parents willingly place their child for adoption, frequently selecting the adoptive family.

Birth parents can locate a family on their own or with the aid of an adoption agency or attorney.

When it comes to adopting a child, private adoption is the most popular choice.

It is generally difficult to put newborns with prospective adoptive families through public adoption or adoption from foster care.

While it does occur, it is far less often than private adoption. Adoptive parents who wish to adopt a child will most likely use a private adoption agency.

Adoption fees may apply to prospective adoptive parents, including but not limited to agency, home study, housing expenses for the birth mother, court, and attorney fees, among others.

Depending on the conditions, it can easily cost tens of thousands of dollars.

To save some of the expenses, prospective parents might take this path and try to locate a match on their own.

By word of mouth, some of these adoptions take place among extended families or friends.

Prospective parents frequently match with someone they know, or with a circumstance involving a friend or family member.

Self-matching has been made much easier with the assistance of social media.

Private adoption allows for the longest journey since it usually begins with the birth mother’s pregnancy and continues long after the birth parents have placed their child.

What are the Pros of Private Adoption?

  • Adoptive parents are frequently able to communicate with a baby’s biological mother and may even provide assistance during her pregnancy. This gives the adoptive parents additional information about the infant and gives the birth mother the opportunity to have a role in the baby’s life if both parties are interested.
  • Many prospective parents wish to raise their children from birth, and private adoptions allow them to do so. The majority of older children are adopted through a government agency and may already be in foster care.
  • Working with a private adoption agency might take significantly longer than working with an adoption agency. International adoptions can take a long time since complications in both the United States and the child’s home country might cause delays. Adoptions conducted privately are frequently completed in less than a year.

What are the Cons of Private Adoption?

  • Parents who want to adopt a child privately encounter some uncertainties. Private adoption birth moms occasionally change their minds. Substance misuse or addiction, for example, might have a negative impact on the health of the baby’s mother.
  • Although consulting with an attorney during a private adoption is less expensive than working with an adoption agency, parents who adopt privately may be responsible for most or all of the birth mother’s medical expenses. Other costs, including child counselors, mediators, or drug misuse specialists, may be totally covered by the adoptive parents.
  • It might be difficult to find a birth mother who is willing to give her child up for adoption. Despite the fact that private adoption is a shorter procedure, many couples wait years to find a birth mother. Some couples announce their desire to adopt on social media and in publications, letting everyone know that they are committed to being amazing parents.

Trina Greenfield - Adoption Author

About the Author: Trina Greenfield is passionate about providing information to those considering growing their family. Trina does not run an adoption agency. Her website is strictly information-based, so she is able to provide unbiased, credible information that she hopes will help guide those along their journey.

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Understanding adoption: A developmental approach

As children grow up, they develop a positive sense of their identity, a sense of psychosocial well-being ( 1 ). They gradually develop a self-concept (how they see themselves) and self-esteem (how much they like what they see) ( 2 ). Ultimately, they learn to be comfortable with themselves. Adoption may make normal childhood issues of attachment, loss and self-image ( 2 ) even more complex. Adopted children must come to terms with and integrate both their birth and adoptive families.

Children who were adopted as infants are affected by the adoption throughout their lives. Children adopted later in life come to understand adoption during a different developmental stage. Those who have experienced trauma or neglect may remember such experiences, which further complicates their self-image ( 1 ). Transracial, crosscultural and special needs issues may also affect a child’s adoption experience ( 2 , 3 ). All adopted children grieve the loss of their biological family, their heritage and their culture to some extent ( 4 ). Adoptive parents can facilitate and assist this natural grieving process by being comfortable with using adoption language (eg, birth parents and birth family) and discussing adoption issues ( 5 ).

The present statement reviews how children gain an understanding of adoption as they grow from infancy through adolescence. Specific issues relevant to transracial adoptions are beyond the scope of this statement and will not be addressed.

INFANCY AND EARLY CHILDHOOD

During infancy and early childhood, a child attaches to and bonds with the primary care-giver. Prenatal issues, such as the length of gestation, the mother’s use of drugs or alcohol, and genetic vulnerabilities, may, ultimately, affect a child’s ability to adjust. The temperament of everyone involved also plays a role.

As a child approaches preschool age, he or she develops magical thinking, that is, the world of fantasy is used to explain that which he or she cannot comprehend. The child does not understand reproduction, and must first understand that he or she had a birth mother and was born the same way as other children ( 2 , 5 ). Even though a child as young as three years of age may repeat his or her adoption story, the child does not comprehend it ( 3 , 5 ). The child must first grasp the concept of time and space, which usually occurs at age four to five years, to see that some events occurred in the past, even though he or she does not remember them. The child must understand that places and people exist outside of his or her immediate environment.

Telling a child his or her adoption story at this early age may help parents to become comfortable with the language of adoption and the child’s birth story. Children need to know that they were adopted. Parents’ openness and degree of comfort create an environment that is conducive to a child asking questions about his or her adoption ( 3 ).

SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN

Operational thinking, causality and logical planning begin to emerge in the school-aged child. The child is trying to understand and to master the world in which he or she lives. The child is a problem solver. He or she realizes that most other children are living with at least one other biological relative ( 6 ). It is the first time that the child sees himself or herself as being different from other children. The child may struggle with the meaning of being adopted, and may experience feelings of loss and sadness ( 1 , 7 ). He or she begins to see the flip side of the adoption story and may wonder what was wrong with him or her; why did the birth mother place him or her up for adoption? The child may feel abandoned and angry ( 1 , 2 ). It is normal to see aggression, angry behaviour, withdrawal or sadness and self-image problems ( 1 , 8 ) among adopted children at this age. The child attempts to reformulate the parts of his or her story that are hard to understand and to compensate for emotions that are painful ( 2 ). As a result, daydreaming is very common among adopted children who are working through complex identity issues ( 5 , 7 ).

Control may be an issue. A child may believe that he or she has had no control over losing one family and being placed with another. The child may need to have reassurance about day to day activities or may require repeated explanations about simple changes in the family’s routine ( 5 ). Transitions may be particularly difficult. The child may have an outright fear of abandonment, difficulty falling asleep and, even, kidnapping nightmares ( 1 ).

It is helpful to explain that the birth mother made a loving choice by placing the child up for adoption, that she had a plan for his or her future. The child may need to hear this statement repeatedly. There is some similarity between the symptoms of grief and symptoms associated with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder; care givers must be wary not to label a child with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder when, in fact, the child’s behaviour is consistent with a normal grieving process ( 9 ). A parent’s patience and understanding are crucial at this point of an adopted child’s life. Parents may be pro-active by educating school personnel about the natural grieving issues related to adoption that their child is experiencing.

ADOLESCENCE

The adolescent’s primary developmental task is to establish an identity while actively seeking independence and separation from family ( 2 ). The adopted adolescent needs to make sense of both sets of parents, and this may cause a sense of divided loyalties and conflict ( 7 ). In early adolescence, the loss of childhood itself is a significant issue. The adopted adolescent has already experienced loss, making the transition to adolescence even more complicated ( 1 , 7 ). This period of development may be difficult and confusing. Adolescents may experience shame and loss of self-esteem, particularly because society’s image of birth parents is often negative ( 2 ).

Adopted adolescents will want to know details about their genetic history and how they are unique. They will reflect on themselves and their adoptive family to determine similarities and differences. They will attempt to ascertain where they belong and where they came from ( 7 ). All adolescents may have a natural reticence about talking to their parents, and adopted adolescents may not share questions about their origins with their parents. They may keep their reflections to themselves. Adopted adolescents’ search for information about themselves is very normal, and parents should not see this as a threat. Instead, parents’ willingness to accept their child’s dual heritage of biology and environment will help their child to accept that reality ( 7 ).

CONCLUSIONS

Children’s interest in adoption varies throughout the developmental stages of childhood and adolescence. As children progress from one stage to another, they gain new cognitive abilities and psychosocial structures. They look at adoption differently and, often, have more concerns or questions. Their questions may diminish until a new cognitive and psychosocial level is reached. Parents can facilitate this developmental process by being knowledgeable and supportive, and by continuing to retell their child his or her adoption story. The grief that their child experiences is real and should not be denied or avoided. Support from knowledgeable health care providers is invaluable in helping adoptive parents and their child. Although this statement has addressed common issues that relate to a child’s perception of adoption, a psychological or psychiatric referral is indicated if the child suffers from depression, or has symptoms that affect his or her day-to-day functioning. Paediatricians and other professionals who care for children should provide anticipatory guidance by counselling parents of adopted children about relevant issues that concern their child’s understanding of his or her adoption.

Good, common sense resources are available to parents. Lois Melina’s Making Sense of Adoption: A Parent’s Guide ( 5 ) is an excellent, practical source of adoption information for parents. Joyce Maguire Pavao’s The Family of Adoption ( 7 ) looks at the entire family’s adoption experience throughout the family life cycle. Also, “Talking to children about their adoption: When to start, what to say, what to expect”, is a brief, yet informative, article for parents that was published in the Adopted Child newsletter ( 6 ).

COMMUNITY PAEDIATRICS COMMITTEE

Members: Drs Cecilia Baxter, Edmonton, Alberta; Fabian P Gorodzinsky, London, Ontario; Denis Leduc, Montréal, Québec (chair); Paul Munk, Toronto, Ontario (director responsible); Peter Noonan, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Sandra Woods, Val-d’Or, Québec;

Consultant: Dr Linda Spigelblatt, Montréal, Québec

Liaison: Dr Joseph Telch, Unionville, Ontario (Canadian Paediatric Society, Community Paediatrics Section)

Principal author : Dr Cecilia Baxter, Edmonton, Alberta

The recommendations in this statement do not indicate an exclusive course of treatment or procedure to be followed. Variations, taking into account individual circumstances, may be appropriate.

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Essay on Adoption: Pros and Cons of Child Adoption

benefits of adoption essay

As a rule, essays on adoption examine the two types of adoption, namely closed or confidential adoption and open adoption that has gained popularity since the early 1980s. Adoption essay topics are diverse. They may include the pros and cons of adoption or the issue of child adoption by homosexual couples, which is a goal of gay adoption essay. They might also reflect some ideas on the issue of either closed or open adoption. Adoption essays are aimed to make it clear why adopted children often suffer from various associated problems and what concerns their parents have in relation to the upbringing of non-biological children. The following persuasive essay on adoption will examine the advantages and disadvantage of adoption regardless of its type. The essay on adoption presented below will explore the issue from the perspectives of both adoptive families and adoptees. This will ensure that the readers clearly understand what adoption means and what consequences it is associated with. The following adoption essay will also give a definition of closed and open adoption in order to clarify what these concepts mean. The current essay about adoption will further conclude whether most adopted children feel safe in their new home environment and whether their parents are satisfied with the results of child adoption.

The current adoption argumentative essay will start from giving a definition of closed and open adoption as well as briefly discussing the time periods when these concepts came into being. A closed or confidential adoption is the kind of adoption when there is no relationship between the birth of a child and adoptive families. This kind of adoption was popular from the 1950s till the 1980s, and was afterwards replaced by the open adoption, which at that time started to quickly gain popularity with young couples across the world . In case of confidential or closed adoption, the adoption agencies serve as mediators, while the adoptive families obtain confidential information about the biological parents of a child without identifying who these people are. Such information includes the medical history of biological parents as well as a description of their physical characteristics.

Many parents have an enjoyable experience in the process of adoption, while others are not satisfied with it. Here is a list of pros and cons of adoption, which should be taken into account before making the final decision. Young couples should first of all evaluate whether it would be reasonable to adopt a child or not.

  • The first advantage of adoption consists in rescuing a child. The process of adoption is aimed at finding good candidates for the role of parents, while excluding those who would not be able to handle the task. If a good and well-natured family adopts a child, he/she receives enough support and care necessary for an enjoyable childhood experience. Perhaps, the child is going to have new siblings in his/her new family and build good relations with them that would last for the lifetime. Some of the adopted children are used to abusive behavior, violence and neglect on behalf of adults. Therefore, if they enter a peaceful environment in their new family, they will have a carefree childhood and will get a chance to forget about negative experience in the past.
  • Adoption also represents a kind of assistance provided to the biological parents of a child. In some cases, adoption provides a number of benefits to the birth mother. For example, if the birth mother of a child is a teenager who would otherwise struggle hard to provide necessary conditions for her child while going to school or working, adoption is the best way out of the situation. In some other cases, parents may be physically or psychologically incapable of raising a child on their own. When such parents are deprived of parental rights for the purpose of adoption, they seek help required to provide good life conditions for their child. Adoptive parents in this case would provide necessary care for the new arrival and would cover all the expenses for the legal process of adopting a child.
  • As for the benefits for the adoptive family, it needs to be noted that families want to adopt a child for a variety of reasons. Some of them are unable to have a biological child but are dreaming of having kids. Some others want to avoid the challenging process of pregnancy so they see adoption as the best way out. In these cases, adoption provides multiple benefits for the adoptive families.
  • One of the disadvantages of adoption lies in the fact that it is a long and tiresome process. Once the parents have decided on what agency is best suited for them, they will start the application process, which might take a considerable amount of time. During this process, the agency will examine the ability of parents to raise a child as well as their financial background. They will further be placed on a waiting list before they finally get a chance to adopt a child. This process might take several months or even years. Therefore, such a challenge makes adoption a rather complicated procedure that requires much persistence from the adoptive family.
  • Adoption is also associated with multiple expenses. Some types of adoption might cost around $2,500, so not many families can afford such procedure. At the same time, some employers provide an opportunity to pay some of the expenses to assist with the process of child adoption. Nevertheless, adoption remains a costly procedure, which is not affordable to all families.
  • One more disadvantage is the challenging children. The adopted children might assimilate well into the new environment with all love and care provided to them. However, in later life they might have some psychological problems caused by the fact that they have been adopted. Some of them feel that they are a burden to their new family and tend to blame themselves for any problems faced by the family. This negatively affects their self-esteem and results in depression.

The arguments examined in the current paper prove that adoption is a challenging procedure despite all the benefits associated with rescuing a child from a negative environment. Therefore, it is up to parents to decide whether they wish to adopt a child or not. Parents should take into account all pros and cons of adoption before arriving at the final decision.

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Adoption as an Option to Create a Family

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Adoption is an Option

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benefits of adoption essay

Reasons for Pet Adoption

  • Pet Adoption Resources
  • Puppy Mills

Smiling person holding a white dog with black spots who she adopted

Pet adoption is a lifesaving and heart-expanding endeavor. And there are so many rewards of adopting a pet, including saving the life of a homeless pet and providing them with love and companionship, addressing community issues such as cat and dog overpopulation, and making room for shelters and rescue groups to save more pets.

When you adopt a pet , you are also doing your part to put an end to puppy mills and other inhumane breeding practices where animals often live in cramped conditions without much quality of life. Backyard breeders and pet mills are notorious for overbreeding dogs. And some cat breeders have also been found to have mill-like conditions, where adult animals are bred over and over for the sole purpose of churning out pets for sale.

Adopting a pet can also positively impact a person’s life, and the physical and mental health benefits of having a pet are worth noting. More exercise, play, and outdoor time can improve a person’s mood and increase their socialization as they meet other people (and pets) on daily walks. In addition, an increase in exercise through daily walking can improve physical fitness and health conditions. Plus, a pet can provide friendship and companionship that can help with loneliness and depression.

If you can’t adopt a pet right now, you can still reap these benefits. There are plenty of dogs, cats, and other pets at animal shelters and rescue groups who need daily walks and attention.

As you can see, there are countless reasons for pet adoption — and there are many homeless dogs and cats in shelters and rescue groups across the country who need a loving home. These animals are deserving of our love, attention, and care. And their benefits for us abound as well.

Adopt a Pet

Smiling person with a one-eyed French bulldog

Benefits of adopting vs. buying

When you adopt a pet from a shelter or rescue organization instead of buying a pet, you are providing a home for a pet in need and freeing up space for more animals to be saved. Every day, dogs and cats are killed in America’s shelters simply because they don’t have safe places to call home. That means when you adopt an animal, you are gaining a loving companion and saving a life at the same time.

By adopting a pet, you’re also taking a stand against puppy mills, which are cruel, inhumane factory farms for dogs where quick profits take precedence over the well-being, health, and security of the animals.

Puppy mill dogs live in cramped quarters, and female dogs are bred continuously to produce as many puppies as possible to turn a quick profit for the retail pet trade. Ultimately, the focus is on money and not on the welfare of the animals.

While more and more Americans oppose this inhumane practice, there are still thousands of puppy mills in existence in this country today. Many people don’t realize that when they buy a dog online or from a pet store, that dog might have come from a puppy mill. Adopting a pet is a lifesaving alternative and a wonderful way to protest pet mills and advocate for animals.

Animal adoption has also become more affordable (thanks to reduced fees and free adoption events) and accessible. These days, adoptable animals are easy to find on websites like Petfinder and Adopt a Pet , which feature pets in shelters and rescue groups around the U.S. There are also plenty of other online resources where you can adopt a pet near you , searching from the comfort of your home.

The cost to acquire and care for a dog or cat is worth considering. Buying a pet can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars while adoption is generally cheaper, and there could be additional veterinary costs associated with animals who come from a pet store or breeder. For example, because puppy mills cut corners on health and welfare, dogs purchased from such a facility often end up with health problems.

If you are looking for a specific breed of dog, you don’t have to shop for one. There are breed-specific rescue groups all around the U.S. that specialize in the kind of dog you want whom you can adopt. You can also adopt a purebred dog at a shelter .

Furthermore, many animal shelters and rescue groups spay or neuter their dogs and cats before their adoption, as well as vaccinate and microchip their animals. This can mean hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in additional savings when you adopt a pet as opposed to buying one.

Pet adoption saves lives, and it frees up space in shelters so more lives can be saved. It is also the more ethical, thoughtful, and caring way to bring a pet into your life.

benefits of adoption essay

Benefits of adopting a pet

Pet adoption positively impacts the lives of homeless animals, as well as the people who adopt them.

Adopting an animal often provides new opportunities for social interaction and connection with other people who have pets. It can decrease social isolation and loneliness; improve physical health through exercise, play, and new fitness routines; and improve one’s mental health, emotional stability, and overall sense of well-being thanks to the unconditional love of a companion animal.

A pet can also produce a calming effect on a person. For example, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine , “simply petting a dog lowers the stress hormone cortisol, while the social interaction between people and their dogs actually increases levels of the feel-good hormone oxytocin (the same hormone that bonds mothers to babies).”

Moreover, pets can provide value to their family and community as emotional support animals and therapy pets. They can help people with a host of conditions, including diabetes, autism, cancer, and PTSD. And they can visit people at homes, hospitals, nursing homes, care facilities, schools, and throughout the community. In addition, rescuing animals can be a great tool for parents to teach their children about responsibility; animal care; and the necessity for routine healthy nutrition, exercise, and playtime.

A rescued pet can also reduce stress and anxiety . For instance, studies have shown that eye contact with your dog can release oxytocin — known as the love hormone — which can relieve both anxiety and depression.

In a report on the power of pets, the National Institutes of Health said that interacting with animals can lower blood pressure. Other studies have found that pets can improve overall heart health and reduce the risk of certain heart-related diseases.

A rescued pet also can give a person a renewed sense of purpose and provide them with unconditional love. Dogs and cats are incredible companions, and they really have a positive impact on our overall health and well-being.

Smiling person holding a brown tabby kitten up

Why is shopping for a pet bad?

When people adopt a pet, they are saving a life. When they buy a pet, a homeless pet misses out on the chance at a loving home. And buying pets supports an industry that thrives on disregarding the welfare of animals.

Puppy and kitten mills (which sell to pet stores) are in business to make a profit, so they churn out puppies and kittens as fast as they can. These animals are often in ill health and have problems, such as poor socialization skills due to a lack of human companionship and genetic defects due to inbreeding.

This inhumane breeding and selling of animals through pet stores and in classified ads has been going on for decades. Breeders have also headed online. They sell dogs and cats — born and bred in cruel conditions — through social media channels, in online neighborhood groups, and through online classifieds.

The minimal standards imposed on breeders by the federal government don't promote responsible breeding or ensure healthy puppies and kittens. These government standards also do not address quality of life for the animal; rather, they are about the bare minimum of care. For example, it is perfectly legal for a licensed breeder to own 1,000 or more dogs, keep those dogs confined for the entirety of their lives in small cages, and breed them as often as possible. There are also only a handful of inspectors in each state for all of the state's licensed breeding facilities.

Most puppies sold in pet stores come from puppy mills, and most websites that sell dogs are selling mill-bred pets. It is also important to note that most of these sites market their pets as being well-bred and lovingly raised. Be alert to ads that list several breeds of dogs for sale. It is also a bad sign if a breeder won't let you come visit the pet so that you can see where the animal lives and how they’ve been raised and cared for.

The best way to safeguard against supporting a puppy or kitten mill is never to buy an animal from a pet store or online and instead adopt a dog or cat from a shelter or animal rescue group. Do note though that some pet stores have dogs and cats who are available for adoption through shelters or rescue groups.

Couple of people sitting outside on the grass with a brindle dog

Factors to consider before adopting a pet

Whether you head to your local shelter or a rescue group to adopt a dog, cat, bird, or other animal, think about the kind of pet who will be the best match for you, your family, your lifestyle, and even your energy level and health.

For instance, if you have a lot of time and patience and are willing to dedicate yourself to training a dog, then adopting a puppy might be a good fit. On the other hand, you might consider a more relaxed animal — e.g., an older dog or cat — if you want a slower pace of life. Either way, animal shelters and pet rescue groups have lots of cats, kittens, puppies, dogs, and other animals to choose from.

Adopting a pet is a decision that must be taken seriously. Pets need daily social interaction, play, exercise, training, financial support for vet bills and routine medical care, food, toys, supplies, and even pet-sitting and lodging expenses should you go out of town.

You also need to consider the temperament of the pet and how the animal will get along with other household pets or pets in your community. Some animals need time and training to be well-mannered around people and other pets while others are polite social butterflies. Animal shelters and rescue groups sometimes list their pets’ temperament and activity level on their adoption profiles, which can be helpful information for your search to adopt a pet.

Where you live is also a factor to consider in pet adoption. For instance, if you’re considering a high-energy dog, make sure you have ample space for the dog to run and play and a neighborhood where you can take them for long walks. Low-energy pets who need less activity time might be better suited for smaller spaces.

Smiling person whose arm is around a black and white dog

Advocating for pets

You can advocate for pets and protest puppy mills through a host of puppy mill initiatives from Best Friends Animal Society. We are working to convince pet stores to offer pets for adoption instead of selling mill-bred pets, educate consumers about puppy mills, and create and lobby for humane legislation. Together, we're making an impact and saving lives. You can join us and help bring about a time when every pet can feel safe, happy, and loved.

Why fight the puppy mill problem? More than 1,000 dogs and cats were killed in U.S. shelters every day in 2023, simply because they did not have safe places to call home. One of the most effective and easiest ways a person can help Save Them All is by choosing to adopt a dog or cat instead of purchasing a pet.

When you adopt, you're not only refusing to support puppy mills, but you’re also saving a life and giving an animal in need the second chance he or she deserves.

There are more ways you can help fight puppy mills:

  • Learn more about the puppy mill problem, and find the tools and resources to help fight puppy mills.
  • Download this flyer about puppy mills to share with your friends, family, and other people, and encourage them to adopt their next furry friend.
  • Make a gift to Best Friends Animal Society to be part of our efforts to end puppy mills.

Advocate for Homeless Pets

Black cat in the foreground with two people in the background in a home

Adopt a pet and save a life

We have all heard stories from people who say their adopted pet actually rescued them. An adopted animal is often the very best kind of pet, and animal adoption brings so many mental, physical, and emotional benefits into our lives.

Animal adoption is a lifesaving act that gives pets second chances and happy homes. Last year alone, around 400,000 dogs and cats were killed in our nation's shelters just because they didn’t have safe places to call home. But it doesn't have to be that way. An estimated 17 million people will add a new pet to their family this year. If more of them would choose to adopt a pet instead of buying one, we could bring every community across this country to no-kill.

Whether you adopt a dog or cat from your municipal shelter or an animal rescue group, there are so many animals of all sizes, breeds, types, and ages in need of a loving home. You can also help curtail animal overpopulation issues in your community and the killing of animals in shelters when you adopt a pet instead of buying a pet. Animal adoption also means addressing issues related to puppy mills and inhumane breeding facilities.

By saying no to shopping for a pet and saying yes to animal adoption, you’re giving a voice to animals in need around the U.S., and you're being part of the incredible movement to Save Them All .

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Search form, 10 reasons to adopt a shelter dog.

a yorkie looking up

Deciding to adopt a rescue pet or shelter dog is an important decision. It can be tough to take into account everything you’ll need to be prepared for (both expected and unexpected), but the rewards of adopting a four-legged friend outweigh most concerns and fears many people have concerning adoption. Still not convinced? See our top 10 reasons to adopt: 

1. You’re Saving More Than One Life 

three puppies in a crate

It goes without saying that when you adopt a rescue pet, you’re saving a life—but you’re actually saving more than one. By adopting, you’re helping make space for another animal in need and helping to give them the opportunity to become beloved pets. 

2. Unconditional Love! What Could Be Better? 

a big brindle dog sniffing a woman's face

Many people worry about connecting with a rescued dog, but shelter dogs have so much love to give—and they won’t ever stop giving it to you once you let them into your heart!

3. You’re Giving a Second Chance to a Deserving Animal 

a grey dog getting its face scratched

Beyond just helping an animal in need, you’re giving a rescue an opportunity to find their voice; to be themselves and get a second chance to become a dog beyond the walls of shelter or rescue. You truly give them the keys to start anew in a life where second chances can often be hard to come by. 

4.  You Get a Chance to Stay Active

a woman walking a dog with her daughter over a bridge

Maybe you’re trying to live a more active lifestyle, or maybe you’re just looking for a new adventure. Either way, a new four-legged friend gives you a reason to get outdoors more and stretch your legs!

5.  You Have Someone New to Shop For 

a chihuahua on the beach

It’s always fun to spoil your pets and bringing home a new furry family member gives you a reason to do just that. You can enjoy all the retail therapy you want while making sure your new rescue dog is living in the lap of luxury.

6. You’re Fighting Back Against  Cruel Breeding

a dog with a toy in its mouth

Puppies purchased at pet stores almost always come from cruel breeding facilities where dogs are confined to small, filthy spaces and receive little to no veterinary care. By adopting from your local shelter or rescue, you are giving back to your community instead of helping cruel breeders profit. 

7. Destress and Unwind with Someone Who Will Never Judge You

a chihuahua in a blue sweater in fall leaves

Life is full of stresses, but your rescue dog is always there to listen. They won’t ever judge you or let you down. Taking some time to destress with your furry friends can help you unwind and keep you at peace. 

8. Increase Your Social Interactions

three people with a dog on a picnic table with drinks

Getting out there with your pet can also help you make new human friends, too! You can befriend other pet parents, or even meet someone special when you’re making the rounds at your local dog park or dog-friendly café. 

9. You’ll Have a Lifelong BFF

a woman hugging a dog

What could be better than having a lifelong friend? In your time with your rescue dog, you’ll have a confidante, a pal and ultimately—a beloved family member. You’ll never feel lonely, and in return neither will your shelter dog.

10. Life Will Never Be Boring Again

a dog running with a toy in its mouth

One thing that’s for certain, is that life with a rescue dog brings big changes—in the best way! Say goodbye to predictable nights and your boring routine and say hello to a new lease on life. Your new pet will keep life exciting, fresh and full of love. 

October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, and as we honor this month, we encourage everyone to open their minds and hearts to shelter dogs in need. Even if you are unable to officially adopt, there may be something you can do at your local shelter or rescue to help animals in need.

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