I had always assumed that the international adoption fad was just something that celebrities did to grab media attention and feed their already bloated egos. Little did I understand the importance of foreign adoptions. Adopting a child from overseas was not, as I had assumed, simply a way to indulge a vain passion for the exotic or a patronizing sense of one's moral superiority by taking care of a kid from the “third world”. As a matter of fact, a foreign adoption makes a lot of sense for many parents in America nowadays.
You see, until the last few decades, it was very difficult for children to find adoptive parents. No one wanted a domestically born orphan, much less a foreign adoption. With the prevalence of fertility problems, a ballooning population, and a decline in the stigma associated with adopting, the situation has changed radically. Nowadays, the waiting list to adopt a child – especially a healthy, newborn child – is astronomical. Going for an American adoption, you might have to wait for years and years. A foreign adoption is a way to circumvent these difficulties. In many countries, the waiting times are much shorter, the adoptions are often less expensive, and the paperwork is less onerous.
Of course, foreign adoptions do pose some problems that domestic ones do not. Oftentimes, foreign adopted children will be more aware of the differences between them and their parents than ones adopted from their own country and culture. They may have serious problems forming a sense of identity as they grow up, problems that they will not resolve very easily. The children of foreign adoptions are, according to some experts, much more likely to have behavioral issues than other children. Nonetheless, it is all worth it. In the long run, there is no reason a foreign adoption can not work out well both for the children and the parents.
Of course, a foreign adoption is not for those afraid of a little bit of travel or adventure. Often, you have to go to several different regions in order to locate a suitable child to adopt. You may have to hire interpreters, travel agents, lawyers, and various other experts. Better yet, you should probably go through an international adoption agency, one with experience in connecting parents from your country with children from around the world. Otherwise, it will be almost impossible to navigate the complicated maze of adopting internationally. Trust me, you don't need the headache!
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