Older Child Adoption

Adoption is changing. The children being adopted are changing. And adoptive parents are changing. Twenty years ago, most adoptions were young couples adopting domestic newborn babies. Now, older children are adopted. Children are adopted internationally.

The parents who are choosing to adopt are changing. Singles, empty-nesters, parents looking to add to their biological children. And many of these parents are in their forties and fifties.

Some people look at the age question as an issue. Other look at it quite passively. However, there are several things to consider:

-Will it bother you to be one of the oldest parents in your child’s class? At soccer games? Driving the car pool?

-How’s your health? If you’re going to be a first-time parent, you’ll be amazed at how many muscles can ache from picking up your child for a hug, rolling down a hill with them, or playing a rousing game of horsy, with you as the horse!

-Do you have a support system in place? No matter what your age, parenting requires assistance when you’re sick or need to go out of town. Do you have friends, family, neighbors, and child care arrangements to help you out?

-Older parents sometimes choose to adopt older children. If you do, are you familiar with older child adoption issues and challenges? Do you have services in your town to help you and your older child?

-If something were to happen to you before your child were of age, do you have a family member or close friend who would agree to be your child’s guardian?

While these are some of the issues to consider by being an older parent, there are also advantages.

-You’re often more financially sound than when you were younger.

-In your job, you’re usually in a more senior position so may have more options regarding vacation time, days off, and medical insurance.

-You’re often very committed to the idea of parenting since you’ve waited.

-You’re often very passionate about parenting since you’ve spent time thinking about it, researching, and maybe praying.

No matter what your age when you become a parent, there are joys and challenges! Celebrate the joys and accept the challenges.