Poll: Adoption

sunflower1998

Another celebrity has, yet again, adopted a child from another country.  I am referring to Katherine Heigl & Josh Kelley adopting a girl from Korea.This makes me curious.. With children in these celebrity's own countries needing loving homes, do you agree with going overseas to adopt or would you adopt a child from your own country?

jasmineh7777

Although there are many children in need in the U.S. we at least have a system to care for these children until they are adopted. Children in some countries have way less of a chance of getting adopted, and it is literally a life or death situation.

rhodesign

I'm all for adoption, period.BUT I do also think I'd rather adopt here than overseas. Yes, we have foster care for kids here, but if you aren't a perfectly healthy white baby, chances are you won't get adopted as easily if at all and wind up in the system your whole life. Problem is that yes, they do make it very hard to adopt here. I understand the need for good parents and hence the background checks, etc. but it's discouraging to people who want to adopt. Also, the whole mother can reclaim the child puts a damper on things. Private adoption is a bit easier, but much more expensive.I would love to adopt if I don't have one naturally. I'm not at all into IVF, etc. so if I couldn't conceive, I'd adopt without hesitation.

[Deleted User]

"IMO, a child in need is a child in need. I don't really care where they're from. " Agree 100%

kinsey0628

in the case of katherin heigl, her sister was adopted from korea, which is why she felt strongly about adopting a baby from korea also.i don't really get the whole argument about "US babies need adopting, adopt them first."  adopt whoever you want."the only stipulation was that one of the parents had to be oriental"FYI - it's considered offensive to refer to people as "oriental."  "oriental" refers to rugs, etc.  "asian" is the proper word to refer to ethnicity of people.when i was young i used to want to adopt, but honestly now that i'm older, it's not something i'd be interested in doing.  i'm not a huge "must have kids" person, tho.i also dont mean to offend anyone who either was adopted or considering adopting, bc i do think it can be a great thing --- but also, i would say at least half of the people i know who are adopted are really pretty messed up, and not leading great lives.  i guess i assumed there was some correlation?  maybe feeling like your mom abandoned you as a baby sticks with you?  that's actually another reason i could see going international -- bc in the case of international, it's more likely that the mom didn't necesarily give up her baby by choice, but either she died or whatever.  whereas a local US adoption, the mom probably gave up the baby bc she couldn't take care of it, rather than dying or having th baby taken away or something.

WildRumpus

Sorry to offend...my aunt refers to herself as oriental...

kinsey0628

Sorry to offend...my aunt refers to herself as oriental...oh i'm not offended!  weird, your aunt says that, bc i always heard it was considered offensive.

andyandhillary

"i also dont mean to offend anyone who either was adopted or considering adopting, bc i do think it can be a great thing --- but also, i would say at least half of the people i know who are adopted are really pretty messed up, and not leading great lives. i guess i assumed there was some correlation? maybe feeling like your mom abandoned you as a baby sticks with you? that's actually another reason i could see going international -- bc in the case of international, it's more likely that the mom didn't necesarily give up her baby by choice, but either she died or whatever. whereas a local US adoption, the mom probably gave up the baby bc she couldn't take care of it, rather than dying or having th baby taken away or something."  I am adopted so I'll give my two cents to everything.  First to this statement, which to be honest despite your intention is hurtful and ignorant (but I'm not mad, just informing you ).  Think about everyone you know and think about how many of them are messed up.  I bet the adoption part doesn't necessarily come up as a strong indicator.  I know in my life it doesn't.  My extended family has a lot of fertility issues so many of my cousins and my brother are adopted.  None of us are "messed up" nor do we have any "abandonment" issues.  That is not without saying that this is something that is typically thought of but it is not something an adopted person usually dwells upon.  None of my cousins, my brother, or myself have sought out our biological parents and to my knowledge none of us intend to.For couples thinking to adopt:  please do!  It is a wonderful thing to do.  It is certainly difficult from my understanding both emotionally and financially but you will never regret it.  Overseas may be easier emotionally, but financially is it a bigger burden so consider what you are able to "handle".  My parents adopted here and wanted to adopt more children but they didn't want to "take" more children in the U.S. from couples who have no children and they could not afford to go overseas due to my brother's childhood illness.  Fun statistic (that might not be true but I have heard it is lol):  for every one child put up for adoption in the US 4 couples want to adopt it.  So overseas is often much "easier" because there are a lot more children.  Unfortunately, a lot of women who accidentally get pregnant don't put their children up for adoption.  I read in an article about a year ago that in teen mothers particularly, only 14% put their child up for adoption .  I am so eternally grateful that I was adopted.  I am grateful that my biological mother put me up for adoption:  it was the best and most loving thing she could have ever done for me.  I am grateful that I have my parents.  If anyone has questions on adoption feel free to email me at hillary.grachan at gmail dot com. 

thesuninherhead

Children in some of these countries who are orphans experience much hardship and very poor health comparative to their American peers. Personally, I live in a state in Australia with sadly has very poor adoption laws and very few adoptions are able to take place, despite international need and a child protection system with babies on 18 year care orders placed in foster care. I would be happy if adoption of any form was easier here- and I agree that a child in need is a child in need, although I do also recognise that in some countries orphans face much worse fates than in others.

lyndausvi

Late to the game, but for a celebrity I think it makes way more sense to adopt a forgein child.   A forgien adoption of an orphaned child means there is a less likely chance of problems with parents or family members making trouble for them in the future.  It's sad but true.fwiw - I have a bunch of adopted friends.  They are all very well adjusted normal people who life very happy lives.  Sure there are some adoptees out there with emotion issues.  But I think you can say that about the general public.

kinsey0628

andyandhillary - i am sincerely sorry for hurting your feelings and offending you and your family's situation.  i am very happy for you and your family, and very glad the adoption worked out.  thank you too for taking the time to write a response even tho you considered my comment "ignorant."i just disagree that i'm ignorant, bc i didn't say that ALL adopted children are ALL anything, just that i have noticed it in many case.  i do have a friend whose mom gave her sister up for adoption to a very wealthy family, who gave her a lot, yet she feels that she was "abandoned" and is jealous of my friend who got to stay with their birth mother, and has a lot of personal problems.  i certainly do NOT think that applies to all adopted people, i guess i was just stating that it can happen.really- by no means would i EVER want to discourage anyone from adopting and giving a child a loving home.  you are right too - i do also know adopted people who are happy, healthy and thriving.. and glad to have been adopted, so it's really not fair for me to generalize.  i guess it's just something that can happen -- but like someone just said -- anyone in the general population can be effed up too, so i guess it's irrelevant.i am really sorry for hurting your feelings and i am very happy for you and your family's situation and i agree with you to encourage anyone who wants to adopt to go for it and have a great family!