There are some common problems, crisis or issues that can happen to any person leading a normal life. They may include managing one’s relationships, staying in sound state of mental health, fighting disabilities, dealing with abuse, grief and loss, or self-esteem issues. One of the important life issues is adoption.

 There are many people who take care of a child for a certain (long or short) period. Adoption is altogether a different state of affairs where a very high degree of commitment is expected from you. Adoption is when you take a child from his/her birth parents into your own family and legally raise him or her as your own child.

 Having adopted a child you become the adoptive parent/s. Your adopted child is entitled to all the privileges (including the right to inherit) belonging to your natural child. You as adoptive parent/s assume all the legal and social responsibilities of the child.

 Adoption creates a parent-child relation between the adoptive parents and the adopted child and this in turn is responsible for sound mental health.

 Why people go for adoption?

 There are many reasons for people to decide to adopt a child. Some of them include: If you or your partner is infertile; if you are a female and you crossed the ‘medically safe’ age to bear a child; you may have your own children but still desire to raise children to create a larger family; you wish to add a girl or boy child to your family.

 You may decide to adopt a child because there are chances of passing on genetic or medical conditions to your own child; you as a mother do not wish to risk a natural pregnancy due to your health complications; you wish to give a destitute child love, care and support of a family. You may also go for adoption to keep your mental health in fit condition.

 What are the adoption formalities?

 The adoption process is long and tedious. A lot of formalities have to be completed before adoption can take place, e.g. paperwork, legal assistance, help from social organizations and social workers etc. You start the adoption process by getting your application for adoption to pass through administrative and bureaucratic hurdles.

 The adoption agency takes time to complete the formalities at their end. A social worker visits your place to do the home study. The formalities become long-winded and wearisome in case the child is being adopted from another country in which case you may have to visit that country to complete the process. All this involves a lot of paperwork, money, time, energy and above all the patience.   

 What are the responsibilities if you go for adoption?

 Adoption is legally binding on you as adoptive parents.  You just cannot abandon the adopted child. Your responsibility as adoptive parent/s is to establish a bonding with your adopted child. You should be sensitive and proficient in dealing with many adoption issues that can take place after the adoption. This is important for your and your adopted child’s mental health.

 You should take care and see that the adopted child bonds well with you and the other members of the family. If the adopted child is an infant, it is easier and quicker for you and your adopted child to draw to each other. For older adopted children it may take a little longer to emotionally unite with you.

 What is disrupted adoption?

 In the initial period of adoption process the adoption may fall through if birth parents change their mind since the adoption is not final and binding until the legal process is completed.  To ward off such an occurrence it is important to counsel the birth parents and have them sign off on the adoption.

 Post-adoption care

 It is important for you to understand that the child whom you have adopted has separated from her birth parents and needs a very careful handling. Instill a feeling of trust, love and affection in the adopted child to keep her and yourself in a marvelous state of mental health.

All about Understanding the adoption process is a post from: Mental Health