There are an increasing number of adoption professionals that feel that open adoptions can benefit the child and often all parties involved. Information in an open adoption can be exchanged directly or indirectly.

Long term research on families who have been involved in an open adoption suggests that there are many very important benefits to an open adoption. Adoptive families generally say that they do not fear that the birth parents will return to take the child back. Parents state that the children to not show confusion about who is the parent, and children can directly ask the difficult questions. Birthparents state that they are confident in their difficult decision, and that they decision was right, when they know the adoptive parents, and know how the child is doing.

In open adoptions, birthparents and adoptive parents will have some knowledge about one another. The birthparents know something about the adoptive parents, and may even help to choose the adoptive parents. Adoptive parents and their children are able to know medical and genetic information about their child and his or her birth family to help deal with problems that may arise in the future.

The degree of openness between birthparents and adoptive parents, and the child involved, depends on the comfort level of the birthparents, as well as the comfort level of the adoptive parents. Communication is key, and often helps comfort everyone involved. Another aspect to consider is that as an adoptive parent, you have yet another resource for help in dealing with issues if and when they arise.

It’s a complicated personal question with perhaps a more complicated answer. The short answer is yes! If you have the desire to have a child, and you have a lot of love in your heart, then there is a child out there who needs you. There is another serious part of the question, however, that must be considered. Are you right for adoption?

Adoption means a lifelong commitment by you, and everyone involved. You must adopt or the right reasons. If you are adopting to try and save a troubled marriage, to keep up with your friends that have children, to simply have someone to keep your family name going, or due to pressure from others like parents, you are not in the right place to adopt right now, and it would be best not to consider adoption at this time.

Adoption also means you must be ready to deal with the financial, emotional, and time demands on your life. A child requires a great deal of your time, attention, and love, in addition to financial support. Do you have the means to support a child? Do you have the time that a child will need? Do you have the room in your home for a child? You need to be able to answer “yes” to these questions.

Adoption can be one of, if not the most rewarding experiences of your life, as long as you are in the right place in your life to handle all of the needs and demands that come along with it.