[CubsFan1998]

I am a 26 year old single woman who is looking to fullfill her life with a child. I'd like to get information and talk to other in my position and see how they are making the decision.

If someone can help me by sharing their thoughts and stories I'd appreciate it.

I'm open to any type of adoption, but am looking for the type where I would recieve the child at birth so I get to experience all its milestones.

[Lee Varon]

You're best bet is to start calling agencies and ask them what programs they have for single women. Go to www. AdoptiveFamiliesMagazine.com and find out how to order their Adoption Guide. This guide lists all private agencies and tells you whether they work with singles. Also, call you state adoption Unit which will place children for adoption who are the care of your state child welfare agency. Good luck!

[hansmom]

HI

I am a single women who did a single parent adoption. I did a lot of reschearch. I call every group and agency I could find in my area and out of my area. I read alot on line and asked alot of questions. I finally worked with a lawyer who does adoption. It took 20 months start to finish.

I was able to go to the hospital and check my new born baby daughter out of the hospital.

It was the most wonderfull moment of my life.

Good Luck.

[Jackobanzi]

Ahem...

Allow me to point out that Lee Varon wrote a WONDERFUL book called, "Adopting on Your Own: The Complete Guide to Adopting as a Single Parent." It was a great anchor for me while my brain was reeling with initial thoughts and doubts. What I like the most is that it's very honest - it neither promotes nor discourages adoptiong. It presents realistic issues and considerations, but is positive at the same time. There are also annotated lists of other types of resources to check out. I loved it!

My other advice is to lurk around on these different boards and see what you can see. Even in other threads there are gobs of information that are helpful to getting a realistic perspective on what you are in for.

Good luck!

[mckenna]

i adopted my son from foster care, he came to me at 4 months and his adoption was final when he was 2.5 y/o. i was 27 when he came to me. i am very close to finalizing the adoption of his sister. she was 6 weeks when placed with me and is now 15 months, i suspect she will be 20-22 months at adoption.

[joyful mom]

I adopted three babies from foster care as a single woman. I was only 23 years old when I brought my first darling baby home. He was 5 months old, and is now almost 8 years old. My second son was 5 weeks old and is now 5 years old. In January of 2005 I picked up my newborn daughter. Her adoption was finalized already in December.
None of these adoptions cost me anything and they recieve subsides and medical coverage till they turn 18. These supports have been a tremendous blessing to my family. I am actually a stay at home mom right now! I can recomend foster adoption very highly!

[G35Guy]

I was always under the impression that foster adoption rarely involved infants. Is it more common than I think or is yours a special case? I'm single and looking to adopt an infant and never thought foster adoption would be an option. Could you elaborate more on your situation process, either here in a pm to me? Thanks!!

Originally Posted by joyful mom

I adopted three babies from foster care as a single woman. I was only 23 years old when I brought my first darling baby home. He was 5 months old, and is now almost 8 years old. My second son was 5 weeks old and is now 5 years old. In January of 2005 I picked up my newborn daughter. Her adoption was finalized already in December.
None of these adoptions cost me anything and they recieve subsides and medical coverage till they turn 18. These supports have been a tremendous blessing to my family. I am actually a stay at home mom right now! I can recomend foster adoption very highly!

[ocracoke]

I know of several people who do foster care that have had infants placed with them. One of my friends got one directly from the hospital because the mom took drugs in the hospital. Of course it is important to note that they start as foster meaning that bio parents rights have not been terminated. They might get visitation. And if the parents meet the expectations of the social service plans then they might get the children back. If they don't then they will have the option to adopt them. Talk to a foster care/adoption agency regarding this and find out what your options are.

Best of luck to you,
Samantha

[momily]

I'm also a single mom. My son was placed with me at 16 days -- there really aren't that many milestones to miss in the first 16 days! I used a private agency in my area for the adoption.

I am now starting the process for a second child. I don't feel the same need to have a newborn and experience everything this time, so in addition to another agency adoption I'm looking into Ethiopia and a foster/adopt program. Today I'm leaning towards Ethiopia, but if you ask me next week I may feel differently.

[lweiner]

I completly understand your feelings. I am a 42 year old successful female who has not met mr. right. I have decided to take action myself by adopting as a single parent. Where most view being single a handicap, I feel that is no longer true. There are single people who can provide for a child just as well as a married couple. Through my adoption agency and research about adoption over the last year, I have seen a growing amount of single parent adoptions as well as same sex adoptions. I would like to think that people are all "just tryin to get along".

[lweiner]

I completly understand your feelings. I am a 42 year old successful female who has not met mr. right. I have decided to take action myself by adopting as a single parent. Where most view being single a handicap, I feel that is no longer true. There are single people who can provide for a child just as well as a married couple. Through my adoption agency and research about adoption over the last year, I have seen a growing amount of single parent adoptions as well as same sex adoptions. I would like to think that people are all just tryin to get along.

[TMFColombia]

I am a single woman, who is in the process of adopting from Colombia. Some countries have restrictions on single parent adopting so please read and look around.
Best of all, once you made the decesion to adopt the paperwork is not over all just time consuming. But , well worth it.

[tinatyme]

I am also a single foster/adopt mother. I finalized the adoption of my daughter in September. She was placed with me at 5 weeks old. I am also finalizing the adoption of my fs on Dec. 15th. In addition I have had 5 other babies under 3 placed with me to foster that have reunited with family. In my county we have had no problem getting infant placements. In fact there is a shortage of people able to foster infants here so I am called a lot with possible placements.

It is a risk but also can be a great way to build a family especially if you are a single person.

[ds758]

I'm a single woman hoping to adopt too. I've finally decided that domestic adoption through the Department of Children's Services is financially the most realistic for me. I'm 38 and ready for a child. I've just started the process with paperwork and attending a mandantory class for prospective foster and adoptive parents. I'll be finishing the 30 hours of the class in March and I'm so excited and terrified at the same time.

[ElsieC]

36, single. Likewise failed to find mr right. thought I had him for a while but c'est la vie.
Looking to becoming a single mum. adopting in slovakia.

good luck to everyone in the same position!!