The decision to start a family is significant for any couple or individual to make, and if you are unable to have your own children and you want to add a child to your family through adoption, you may wonder if you are ready for it. It’s important to think about all the things that might come up throughout not only the adoption, but also as you raise the child and provide them with a nurturing and loving home. Read on to find out how to answer the question, “Am I ready to adopt?”
Physically Ready
Before you even consider whether or not you should bring a child into your home, perhaps one of the first questions to ask is whether you are physically capable of providing an appropriate home for a child. This means that you have a stable place to live and that you believe you will be able to continue providing a roof over yours and the child’s head for the foreseeable future.
It also means that you have enough space for the child. If you live in a small studio loft and only have room for one twin size bed, it will be difficult for you to offer the right kind of living environment for another human being. Since you will have to undergo a home study prior to adoption, it’s important to review the suitability of your living conditions before you begin the process.
Financially Ready
Adoption can also be an expensive prospect, so before you begin you should be aware of all the potential costs and review your personal finances to make sure you can afford to go through it. There is no set cost for adoption, and it can vary depending on where you live, what type of adoption you choose, and other factors.
Generally a domestic adoption (adopting a child from within the U.S.) averages about $15,000 to $20,000 and an international adoption can cost up to $30,000 or more when you factor in things like travel costs, processing fees in two countries, and other things like medical costs.
While the costs can be high, it’s also important to review what financial resources are available. If you choose to adopt a child from the foster care system, the total costs could be just a couple hundred dollars, and there are also tax credits as well as financial help from many employers.
Emotionally Ready
The most important questions to ask are the ones about your emotional readiness to adopt a child. Before you even begin the process, you need to explore whether you (and your partner or spouse, if you have one) are both ready to be emotionally invested in raising a child.
It’s also important to understand that the entire process can be very long and stressful. The average adoption takes about two years, but it could be anywhere from a couple of months to several years. There is a lot of paperwork, and no guarantee that you will be able to get a child within any time frame. The entire process can be very stressful. In addition you will have social workers and other agencies who are examining very personal details of your life to determine if you can provide a loving and stable home for a child.
The emotional needs of the child also extend far beyond just the adoption process, so it’s important to make sure that you are doing it for the right reasons and that you and a spouse or partner are completely committed to providing the best home for a child.
