Adoption Advice

[drplasma64]

Hi, my opinion is that the most important thing that parents offer their children is love. Then respect and discipline (not in the sense of spanking, but in the sense of setting expectations and helping them achieve their goals). These "intangibles" are a lot more important in raising well adjusted, happy, successful (again in the sense of feeling their own self-worth) than money. Also, being able to offer opportunities like teaching about backpacking & the outdoors gives kids something that money never can...appreciation for nature and beauty, and of course GREAT quality time with their parents.

I had my first biological child when I was 35, and my second when I was 38. Yes, I don't have as much energy as when I was 25, but I feel that all in all a better parent now than I would have been then. Yes, we worry a little about "not being there when the kids are older"...but there's not much we can do about that except make sure to minimize the burden we place on them as we get older.

I think if you and your hubby feel like something is missing, you should not hesitate to consider adopting, or even further investigation into what medicine may be able to offer you today.

(editted to say, what I mean is that if you feel that CHILDREN are missing from your family...I agree with Irulan that kids are not a fix for something missing in the relationship between the parents)

Take my opinion with a grain of salt, I'm a stay-home mom who gave up a career in biological research because I felt that it was more important for my kids to have ME everyday, than the stuff my paycheck would offer, so obviously I am biased.

Oh, and very few people know anything about raising children before they start. Luckily, you grow into the job!