[searuss]

Hi All,

I have adopted a 6 years old from Guatemala as a sinle father. I must say that considering some examples I have seen, I am happy that I have adopted an older child. I want to share this because I see that many single parents are in dillemma of a younger child or a baby towards older child. If you have a job, your own life and still want to adopt, than an older child is for you. My son, Mohammmed now speaks fully in english after just 7 months, already enrolled for first grade (considering he never had KGs, he was suberb in entry exams) and you can not imagine how easy it is to have an older child. Yes, they come with a baggage but it is in your hand to handle those. Considering that many adopted babies even have some soort of problems later on, not a big deal.

Just wanted to share with you my experience.

Cem
from Dubai (United Arab Emirates)

[SnoFLKDrms]

I totally agree with you. Older children deserve loving parents too. They often end up set aside and passed by for adoption due to their age.

I highly encourage people who have a lot of love to give to concider adopting an older child. Especially if there is a sibling out there in care also.

Older children do not require as much hovering as a baby does. But they still need the love and nurturing that is missing from their life. They are ready for companionship and love one on one outtings to the park or sitting home playing a game or just sitting and talking over french fries.

Homework can be fun too. Plus you often miss the potty training stage and for me thats a plus lol.
With a little love and courage an older child can fit right in and make your life full and exciting.

[Pinkie]

My homestudy stated a younger aged child but when my agency asked me to consider Antonina who's fifth birthday was that very same day, I didn't hesitate. I just knew in my heart that we were meant to be.

We have been home forever for exactly 3 months (Russian, 2 Trip adoption), and I couldn't be happier with my decision. Little girls aged 5 do come with their issues!! but in my case they are mild issues that can and will be dealt with and we are both shining. I'm all for older child adoption.

[singlemommy]

Thank you for posting this. I am in the process of adopting through foster care as a single mother, sibling group of two, ages 1-6. While you posted ages in this range I recently changed the upper end age to 9 years old. This gives me comfort in my decision that older children need the same love as a newborn, they just have different issues to love and work through. All children deserve the love of a family regardless of age, but we all have to decide what age works best for our family.

[SnoFLKDrms]

Thank you for the feedback.

It warms my heart when someone extends their exceptance to include older children in their home agreements.

I know my oldest daughter was 11 when she came to my home and I adored her. She has grown into a beautiful young woman. She just needed love and attention.

Stop on in and check out Adoption. Com and our new
OlderChildAdoption Blog..........thats where i post daily.
I look forward to having you visit and leave some feedback.

If there are any topics you would like information on drop us a line and we will be glad to explore the answers with you.

Hugs,
Shar

[Shawn_in_Korea]

I have to agree that adopting older children is better for single parents. I have volunteered at an orphanage here in Seoul, South Korea for a long time and I just fell in love with a couple of the older boys. They were 6 when I met them and after a long battle to get them that is a looooong story, they will be moving in when they turn 8. It took too long, but better late than never. I have to live with them here in Korea for the next 2 years to get their Visas, and I am glad they are older. Childcare here is through the roof, but as they are school age, they will spend most of the day at school. That is a blessing.

I am sad that I missed so much of their earlier life, learning to crawl, walk, their first words, and all the other things, but it also means that I got to jump right into the rough housing and wrestling and the pranks that young boys can play. They are great! I also realize that by the time I get them back to America and can show them the life I promised them, I will only have 8 short years before the run off to college and then I will have to deal with the empty nest syndrome.

Adopt older kids! If I didn't get my 2, then they would have spent almost their entire lives in a group home and then be thrown into the world at age 17, where Koreans are still prejudiced against orphans or abandoned children. Most turn to a life of crime, others just seem to fade away.