National Adoption Awareness Month

By Diane Forrest,

When my son recently got married his wife brought her dog to come live with them.  It wasn't long that she decided her dog was lonely and needed a friend.  They went to the local animal shelter and adopted another dog to join their family.  Charlie, the spaniel, has extra excitement to their home, but they wouldn't trade him for anything.

You hear alot about adoption these days.  Many celebrities are adopting children.  Some who are unable to have children, some who want to prove a home for abandoned children.  Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have adopted several children from different countries, Sandra Bullock recently adopted a baby boy, and Elton John recently adopted a baby.

A friend of mine was telling me about her cousin who adopted a baby girl from China.  She chose adoption because she was single, getting older, and wanted a child.  She was unable to adopt in the United States, so she traveled to China.  Chinese families have several girl babies for adoption because most families are only allowed one child, and it the child is a girl, they put her up for adoption and try for a son.  She told me that her cousin teaches her about her native country as well as her home country.

There are many reasons why a child is put up for adoption.  Some children have lost their parents, and are unable to be cared for by other family members, some are from unwed mothers, who are unable to provide a home, some who are handicapped, and abandoned, and some are used for financial gain.

There is a long history of children being adopted as early as the Roman empire.  Many were considered property and used as slaves; some were adopted into royalty by emperors.  Many children were abandoned during the depression when they couldn't be cared for.

There has been a decline in adoption rates since the 1970's.  Some reasons include the introduction of the birth control pill and the fact that being an unwed mother doesn’t have the same stigma attached as it once did.

Parents of adopted children not only enrich their homes and families, but also allow the children to live in a normal home instead of being institutionalized in an orphanage or other facility.  Whether an adopted child, or pet, each will have a much better, happier life.

This is National Adoption Awareness Month.  To find out more about adoption, visit this site:  http://nationaladoptionawarenessmonth.com/