3 Unique Advantages for Adoptees
One of the most common misconceptions people have about adoption is that adoptees will always be at a disadvantage because they do not have “real” parents. This is a troubling misconception because not only does it discount the efforts many adoptive families have put in raising an adopted child as their own, but it also considers family to be something purely biological when a family is something forged from the effort we put into maintaining a happy and healthy relationship. Another reason why this misconception of adoptees is so harmful is that it labels adoptees as disadvantaged because they do not have biological parents. This implies that an adoptee will never be successful or will never understand what having a “real” family is like. This notion discredits adoptees as people and instead boxes them into a single identity.
As such, it is important that we work to dismantle this stigma, and one of the ways we can do that is by educating others of the benefits of adoption and how it provides many birth parents children and waiting for families with a chance to have a new life filled with many opportunities. At Adoption Choices of Oklahoma, we provide many resources for people to understand what the adoption process looks like, how it may be beneficial for you as a birth mother, and how it may provide your child with many advantages as an adoptee.
Giving Baby Up for Adoption
Before you consider adoption, you may want to better understand what the adoption process looks like. The first step of the adoption process is contacting the adoption agency, and this will put you in contact with an adoption specialist. Once you set up an initial meeting date, your adoption specialist will help you figure out if adoption is right for you.
If you choose to pursue an adoption, you will then work on your adoption plan. This is where you will be able to write out what you want your adoption to look like. You can decide on what kind of family you want your child to live with, such as if you want your child to grow up with siblings or not. You will also be able to decide on the level of communication you want with your child post-adoption.
Your adoption specialist will continue to help you throughout your pregnancy and adoption journey so that you do not have to go through it alone. Our adoption agency in OK also provides many resources for you so that you do not have to be as stressed during your pregnancy. Adoption is a great opportunity for you and your child, and it is beneficial to explore these benefits of being an adoptee to see if adoption is the best choice for you.
Adoptees Have More Access to Opportunities
One of the most beneficial things about being an adoptee is the plethora of opportunities offered to them. One of the most obvious examples of this is a safe, stable, and happy home for them to live in. All of the waiting families listed on our website have passed home studies and are prepared to welcome a new child into their life, so you can be reassured that the family you choose will be able to provide love and support. Having a stable and supportive home to live in will inevitably open more doors for your child. A stable home can mean having the opportunity to pursue higher education, which can open even more opportunities for them. A stable home can also mean having the chance to travel more often. Traveling is an experience that not many people can have, but with a family, your child may have the opportunity to explore places they would never have had the opportunity to go to before.
Adoptees Can Explore Multiple Cultures or Identities
On the topic of traveling, your child may travel to different parts of the world because of their adoptive family’s roots and culture. If you have chosen a transracial adoption, your child will have the opportunity to be exposed to this culture. Exposure to different cultures and identities at an early age means your child will be able to understand their own identity at an early age, which is extremely healthy. Your child’s own understanding of their identity will help them accept who they are and help them learn to love themselves. Your child will also be able to break stigmas surrounding adoption, family, and race because they will be an example of how diverse adoption can be. They will also be proof that a family is not necessarily biological.
Adoptees Can Have Multiple Families
When you choose adoption, your child will be placed into the care of another family, but that does not mean you cannot be involved in their life. If you choose an open adoption in your adoption plan, you will be able to be involved in your child’s life. Your child will have the wonderful opportunity of being loved by two families, and by involving yourself in your child’s life, you will be able to help them come to terms as to why you have made the decision. You may also be able to help them understand themselves better. Open adoption is a great way for your child to experience all the love in the world, and it is a great way to show your child that a family does not have to be stereotypically nuclear.
Getting Help With Adoption
Adoption can be an overwhelming word to even just think about, but it does not have to be that way, especially if you have the right help and set of resources. At Adoption Choices of Oklahoma, we want to be able to provide you with these resources so that your pregnancy and adoption journey can be as stress-free as possible.
Adoption Choices of Oklahoma is a private adoption agency, licensed by the state of Oklahoma and a leader in the adoption community. We have been assisting birth parents, children, and adoptive families in Oklahoma for over 19 years. Our staff members are committed to providing an ethical, empowering, and personalized adoption experience to all involved in the adoption process. If you are currently in the process of adopting a baby and have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us.
Toll-free: 800-898-6028 | OKC Local: 405-755-1999 | Tulsa Local: 918-447-7777 | Text: 405-201-6643 | Email
Meet the author: Victoria Chan is a sophomore at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and she is currently a Literature, Media, and Communications major. She currently runs her own blog, where she shares her poetry and creative writing projects. When she is not working or studying for school, she is often reading or writing, as she seeks to pursue a career in writing.