As an adoptive parent, you realize the beauty and importance of providing a permanent home for a deserving child. With over 100,00 children currently eligible for adoption, it's critical that people continue to open their hearts and their homes to children in need. The whole process truly is a pure expression of compassion and generosity--often having as profound of an impact on parents as it does the child.
However, the differences between a natural birth family and an adoptive one are numerous. Often, social perceptions and biases can create a challenging landscape for your family. It's important to know the types of positive and negative bias that can impact your family--and what you can do to combat them.
Positive Adoption Bias
In the media, adoptions are often seen as a celebration where a child is removed from a bad situation and placed into an infinitely better one. In some ways, this perception is well-deserved. From an outside perspective, a child who is fortunate enough to be placed in a permanent home is certainly better off than they were before their placement. …show more content…
They probably had friends and safe adults in their life before their placement, and it's important to honor these as a parent. Otherwise, you run the risk of coming across as critical of who your child is as a result of these experiences.
Also, it's important to remember that childhood is difficult regardless of the circumstances surrounding it. It's easy to gloss over minor difficulties in your child's life when you compare them to the hardship they might have faced before. Remember, while you've certainly created a better situation for your child, they still need your support in the business of growing up.
Negative Adoption
However, the differences between a natural birth family and an adoptive one are numerous. Often, social perceptions and biases can create a challenging landscape for your family. It's important to know the types of positive and negative bias that can impact your family--and what you can do to combat them.
Positive Adoption Bias
In the media, adoptions are often seen as a celebration where a child is removed from a bad situation and placed into an infinitely better one. In some ways, this perception is well-deserved. From an outside perspective, a child who is fortunate enough to be placed in a permanent home is certainly better off than they were before their placement. …show more content…
They probably had friends and safe adults in their life before their placement, and it's important to honor these as a parent. Otherwise, you run the risk of coming across as critical of who your child is as a result of these experiences.
Also, it's important to remember that childhood is difficult regardless of the circumstances surrounding it. It's easy to gloss over minor difficulties in your child's life when you compare them to the hardship they might have faced before. Remember, while you've certainly created a better situation for your child, they still need your support in the business of growing up.
Negative Adoption