One thing that breaks my heart is to think of all the children waiting for adoption. So many parents want to adopt newborns that the older children often end up waiting for something that will never happen for them. I can understand wanting to adopt a newborn, and everyone should be able to adopt the age they want, but there are many misconceptions about adopting a newborn verses an older child. If you think that you cannot bond with an older child, I am here to tell you from experience that this is simply not true.
Though my daughter was not one of the children waiting for adoption, there came a time when she had to come live with me. My brother’s wife died, and he was left to raise her on his own. He gave it his best try but he found that he could not do it. He asked my mom to take her, but because of her ill health, this did not last very long. She ended up in my care at age two. There are many children waiting for adoption that are that same age, and I can’t believe that others have not opened their hearts to them.
My little girl is loved more than I thought I could ever love another human being. The other children waiting for adoption deserve the same thing, and I hope with all of my heart that they get it. It doesn’t matter that she was not born to me, and it doesn’t matter that she was already two when she came into my home. The pain I have felt when separated from her, and the pure joy she has provided tells me that I love her as much as any mother loves a child, and that love is returned to me in spades. There are thousands of children waiting for adoption that have the same love to give if someone would just give them a chance.
If you want to adopt, but you are having trouble finding a newborn, you should consider looking into other children waiting for adoption. They may be older, but I assure you that the love will be the same. Yes, you will miss out on infanthood, but when it is all said and done, that will be a very minor issue. Some of the older children waiting for adoption run out of hope for a good life, and I cannot think of anything sadder. Think about opening your heart to an older child, and you may thank God each day that you did.
