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Just wanted to share our story...A cousin's 15yo daughter was pregnant 3 years ago and unable to care for the child. We went through foster-classes so we could become a relative placement and supported her in any way we could. Everyone else said they would not help her out because she needed the reality that she wasn't ready to parent. Grandma and Great Grandma laid eyes on that baby and instantly fell in love...they decided they would keep her and help raise her. She has subsequently had another. These kids get shuffled back and forth and while I know they are loved are not in the best of environments.
Now I can look back and be okay with the way things worked out. I think in our case the extended family would have been very difficult to deal with. They never would have seen her as ours. We have gone on to foster and are currently trying to adopt our fd we got at 2 days old (now 17 months). Everyone in the family is crazy about her!
I would go for it if you feel led, but know that until the waiting period is over anything can happen and you would not want to destroy family relationships over it. Also remember that she is 15. Unless she is TOTALLY committed to this she will see herself as mom. She likely will go on to have more children and could be sooner than later...are you willing or able to keep sibs together if needed and if not how will you explain that to the child? I think adopting within a family takes alot more work than outside a family because all of the dynamics already in place....but that's just my opinion. Given the physical distance between your homes it may be easier...we were in the same community.
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