[Katrinad]

This is all very new to me. Considering adoption has opened up a world that is so emotionally fraught, just reading a few of the posts here has me feeling so nervous. My husband and I already have three sons of our own, and would dearly love a daughter. I KNOW how that sounds, but being parents, you all must know how much we love our children. It's just that I always knew I wanted a daughter; pigtails, dresses, boyfriends. I always wanted a daughter to share the love and guidance my own mother gave me. I can pass these things on to my boys, I know, but thinking way into the future, their lives will depend so much on the woman they choose to share their life with, and her mother. Am I making sense? I am so afraid of making someone angry with this post, but considering adoption has made me aware of how I need to work through these issues, and I really hope someone will understand what I am trying to convey. I am capable of having more children of our own (which makes me feel selfish for considering this), but if someone has a daughter they want to give to a wonderful home to have a secure future, why shouldn't she come to a family who will cherish her they way we need to. Our local CYF Adoption worker made the point that many birthparents feel that if a couple were to have their own child they would have no choice about sex. I agree, but I hope that someone would see our point of view, and understand why we feel the way we do. I can't deny that I would love to know what our own daughter would look like, but I just don't think I'm up to a couple more pregnancies hoping!! Please believe me, I know how politically in-correct this conversation is.

I would also like to discuss with an adoptive parent, who has their own natural children as well, how their family unit responded to welcoming an adopted child, as well as extended family and friends.

Speaking of family, I will have to leave this for now, as master 2 1/2 is running riot with no pants on.