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I am in the process of adoption an older child, she is 9, through the state system. I would not say that everything is rosey, it comes with challenges but I would not turn back the clock. One of the main thing that anyone adopting children through the foster care system must do is research information, various special needs and equipt yourself with the skills to deal with everything, especially emotional and behavioural. These kids had a hard young life, even being in care, the unsurity of their life is unsettling. Can you remember a time when your own life was sort of scattered with all the changes in your life? Imagine having that for many years if not all your years. My daughter's life was tough and I can now see some of my battles ahead. I am fortunate to have taken some counselling courses and little workshops on how to listen and speak to children and teens. They courses are coming handy as I am using a lot of the skills to daily help my daughter sort through her emotions (and mine too).
I guess that I would lean more towards domestic adoption for older children right now; however given a time that I had the funds to do international adoption, I would do it for a child between 5-9. These kids lives are more of a urgent physical need(life or death kind of situation) verses domestic which is more emotional/behaviour and yes some physical.
Hope this makes sense.
Jewel
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