Guidelines for Choosing a Family
You probably already have a mental picture of an ideal home and family for your child. The process of adoption creates an opportunity to make that picture a reality by providing you with the opportunity to select the family you want. By answering the following questions you will gain a better understanding of what kind of home and family might be best for your child.
Questions to Ask:
- How long have you been married?
- What makes your marriage work?
- How many other children do you have, or plan to have?
- What is the source of your motivation for adopting?
- Do you have any pets, and if so, how many and what kind?
- Where do you live and what are the living conditions and the general environment (standard of living, urban, country, weather, crime, etc.)? What is your community like?
- Do you have plans to move?
- What is your denomination and current view and practice of religion?
- How much contact do you expect to have with me?
- What is your educational background?
- What is your current occupation--the way you earn a living?
- Will both of you work after you adopt?
- What will make you good parents?
- What about your extended family? How much contact do you expect to have with them?
- With whom will your child be spending the most time?
- What connections through family and friends do you have with adoption?
- What are your hobbies, interests, and goals for the future?
- What type of education would you make available for your child?
- Do you have a college savings plan for your children?
- How do you handle and resolve conflict?
- What is your personal philosophy towards discipline?
- What kind of future do you envision for your adopted child?
