Today I am going to start to give a more detailed definition of what adoption is to me. Remember that this is just a tiny piece of my definition of adoption, and to get the big picture, you need to read this entire category.

For starters, adoption is a business.

I start with that, because it is something that a lot of adoptive parents seem to not be aware of, especially when they are first starting out on their adoption journeys.

It is easy, when you first start looking into adoption, to get disillusioned with all of the light pink and baby blue websites, all of the pictures of beautiful smiling babies, all of the cheery advertisements showing blissfully happy couples holding the baby of their dreams and all of the pictures of "needy children", just waiting to be chosen by an adoptive family. It is easy to let all of that stuff fool you into thinking that all of the people behind those websites, information packets and advertisements are 100% dedicated to helping children and have completely altruistic motives for being involved in adoption.

While adoption is, absolutely, a way to build a family and much, much more, it is very important that adoptive parents never forget for one minute that adoption is also a business. Not only is it a business, but when you stop and think about the logistics, you realize that it is a business in which adoptive parents, birth parents and children can all very easily be taken advantage of.

Imagine that on one hand you have a couple who are desperate to be parents and are longing for a child. They have chosen to adopt and are willing and able to spend a significant amount of money to make their dream a reality. On the other side you have a family living in less than ideal conditions, who are suffering from poverty, illness, a pregnancy out of wedlock or any of countless other challenges, leading them to consider placing a child for adoption. In the middle you have a child and you have an agency. That situation could very, very, easily be manipulated or taken advantage of in several different ways.

Most people would never choose a doctor, a dentist, a lawyer or any other professional to entrust their well-being and their money to, without first putting in a good amount of research. Adoption is no different. When you choose an adoption agency, you are entrusting them with your emotional well being, as well as a significant amount of money. You should be sure that you can trust that they will act in your best interest, and in the best interest of the children and families that they are working with.

Adoptive parents have a responsibility to educate themselves. Adoptive parents have a responsibility to choose an ethical adoption agency. I know that I sound like a broken record when it comes to this, but do your research. Remember that adoption is a big business for many people, and make smart, educated choices when choosing an agency and an adoption program.

Along with adoption being a business, it is also almost always expensive for the adoptive parents. In my next post, I will share some thoughts on the expenses involved in adoption and offer some resources for parents trying to raise the money that they need to adopt.

*If you have not yet participated, make sure you visit this post and enter the fun giveaway for National Adoption Month thanks to Curls.

*Photo from Liquid Library