Adoption Month: 10 Objections to Adoption

Over the next few weeks, we will continue to keep you updated about what is going on in Haiti. It is important for you to know that the situation is not good and it is not improving, and we see evidence of that almost every day. Even today there are videos and warnings out about roads and areas that we have to travel to when leaving the airport for our house. At the same time, we want to let you know about some of the good things that are still happening even while we are in the states and the country is in disarray. Over the next couple of weeks, we are going to start a new blog series called “Positives in the Midst of Crisis” to discuss some of those things.

Today I want to talk a little bit more about National Adoption Month. I think it is quite obvious that Adoption is a huge part of our family and of who we are. Our kids are all either adopted or, in Ezekyal’s case, in the process of being adopted and it has been quite the adventure. Adoption is definitely difficult, it is definitely expensive, and it is definitely worth it. I want to share some of the crazy adoption statistics that are out there:

• While 35% of Americans have considered adoption, only 2% have actually gone through with it.
• In 2007 there were 19,942 International adoptions to the US, in 2018 there were only 4,059.
• On any given day there are around 428,000 children in American foster care, 115,000 of those are waiting to be adopted at any given time.
• According to Unicef there are over 153,000,000 orphans in the world right now.
• In 62% of all private adoptions in America, the adopted child is within 1 month of their birth.

There are so many more statistics that I could share, but these are very pointed. It really seems like, in terms of orphan care and adoption, that we are going the wrong way.  There are more kids in foster care, more orphans worldwide, and less people adopting than ever before.  

With Ezekyal, the circumstances were very different. But with both Sophie and Elijah it took less than 3 months for us to be matched with a birth mother.  I am not going to tell individual adoption stories here on this blog, but the need was very obvious and it still is today.

I am surprised at how many people that I have spoken with over the last few years who have said something like, “I have always wanted to adopt” or “I think God is calling me to adopt” or even “I have looked into adoption.”  I am equally surprised at the percentage of those people who have then moved on with their lives without ever taking a serious step towards adopting a child.

Here is my encouragement to you…The obstacles are nothing compared to the joy of bringing a child into your home.  It is true.  Here are the top 10 major objections that people have to adoption:

1. It is too expensive.
2. I already have biological children.
3. It is way too expensive.
4. Isn’t the process of international adoption “corrupt.” (keep in mind that “corrupt” is a catchall phrase that people use and it can mean almost anything depending on context)
5. It costs too much money.
6. What if I cannot love this child like I should.
7. How much does it cost?
8. I don’t know anything about the family, genetics, or the history of the birth family.
9. Isn’t it really expensive?
10. What if the birth mother changes her mind?

During the course of this week, I will answer each of the 10 objections based on my own adoption experience. I am no expert, but I have done it a few times, and I hope I can help you overcome some of those objections!