Naturally, every adoption situation is unique. The exact reasons why one person decides to utilize adoption are going to be different than someone else’s reasons, and each individual is going to have different goals along the way.
That being said, there are some common reasons that tend to influence the decision-making of both birth parents and adoptive parents. If you’re in the process of allowing your biological child to be adopted, it can be helpful to see why other people have embraced this opportunity. While the following is not an exhaustive list of why many birth mothers opt for adoption, here are a few potential reasons that are often cited when women are asked about their approach.
The biological father is no longer in the picture
In many cases, a birth mother may simply believe that a home life for their child wouldn’t be stable enough because they do not have a relationship with the child’s biological father. Adoption can potentially provide a way for a child to have a stable and loving home with two parents, if that dynamic is something that is important to a birth mother.
They lack resources
Having children is expensive. There’s simply no way to get around that, with costs like pediatric care, daycare and daily necessities requiring immediate – and ongoing – attention. In many cases, people will consider adoption because they know that their child deserves to grow up in a home where these types of resources can be provided and they are not in a position to provide them.
They don’t feel ready for a parental role
People often assume that those who give up a child for adoption do not want to be parents. But this may not be the case. It may simply be that they don’t feel ready to take on a parental role at this time. For instance, this concern is often cited by those who are still in school. They want to get a degree, start a career and have more stability before starting a family. Adoption makes it possible for them to preserve their opportunities for the future while also providing a bright future for their child.
Adoption has proven to be a truly positive approach for many individuals and families. As this process is both complex and consequential, those who are considering it need to make sure that they know about all the legal options at their disposal and to know that they can seek legal guidance in re: these options at any time.
