Has anyone here adopted a child after already having several of there own?

Question

I'm asking because we already have three kids and would like to have a forth but I think I'm getting a little to old to be pregnant again. We would probably apply to adopt from a different country, so any knowledge in that area would be appreciated, as well. Thanks.

Answer 1

i havent but my best friends family had 3 children of their own and then adopted 2. my friend remembers her sister coming home and says she was excited when her parents went to get her new sister. :-)

Answer 2

My biological children were born 14 months apart and very high risk difficult pregnancies so at the age of 21 I didn't mind having my tubes tied as another pregnancy would have likely caused me serious life long problems....

I also didn't mind having my tubes tied so young because I had ALWAYS planned to either Foster Parent or Adopt children from foster care.

My bio kids were born in 1983 and 1984 and my adopted siblings were born in 1998 and 2002....

I felt much OLDER before the adoptions.... but, 5 years later the little ones have forced me to locate the Youth within me!

We did not consider international or newborn adoption as we believed we should meet the needs of our local community first....  We also did not believe that if was in the best interest of ANY of the children to have them too close. Our younger kids are special needs and we didn't want the older ones to be responsible for a major life change--or meeting their needs....

Answer 3

I have two bio children and we adopted our third child.  We were really not looking to adopt at the time but things worked out for our son to be with us.  We adopted out of foster care.  I would not ever dream of adopting out side of the US, there are too many kids here in our home land that are in need of a home.

Answer 4

I am not an adoptive parent, I am a bio child with adopted siblings.  That being said, I agree with Happymom.  My sisters came out of the foster care system.  The were not infant adoptions, they were adopted when they were 3, 4, and 5 years old.  Now they are 7, 8, and 9.  My brother and I are 24 and 27 years old.  

I don't think that just wanting another child is enough.  If you want a child to fulfill your desires of having an even number of children or to have the same number of boys and girls or any other selfish reason such as that, then adoption is not the way to go.  

However, if you are looking to help a child in need and give them a better life, look at doing foster care or adoption of a special needs child.  Give them something they would not be able to get otherwise.  

Adoption can be a wonderful choice, but it needs to be done for the right reasons.  I don't want to be harsh or mean, that is not my desire.  I would like to help the cause of the many children that are in abusive situations being tossed from house to house and in real need of a home and a loving family.

Good luck with your choice.  I hope that everything works out for your family and for the child or children that will be lovingly welcomed into it.

Answer 5

We adopted our third child from foster care after having two biological kids.  With international adoption, "they" don't always disclose the health and emotional status of the kids.  I've heard horror stories in particular of Romanian adoptions, where the kids are warehoused in orphanages and not cared for appropriately.  I can't help you in the whole international adoption department - those were too expensive for us and there are plenty of American children in need of loving homes.  Best of luck to you.

Answer 6

We have 3 bio sons ages 8, 10 and 12.  We are in the final stages of adopting through social services.  The boys are excited to have a little sister, financially we are able to do this and most of all, our hearts have more than enough room for another child!

Answer 7

I have four biological children. We are currently in the end stages of adopting a child from the foster system. We went through the fost/adopt program. This is where you foster a child with the intention of eventually adopting. Our daughter was placed with us when she was 18mo. old, she is now almost three. Her mother and father are meth addicts and habitually in & out of jail and their parental rights have not been terminated. My daughter visits her parents once a week in the social services office  (when they show up or are not in jail). Going throught the social service sytem is free (in Los Angeles) and you actually are paid a monthly stiped even after the adoption is final until they are 18 years old.

As far as my other children are concerned , they all absolutly adore their sister. There are adjustments of course, anytime there is a change in family structure there is. Honestly, my only concern is that the children have become quite attached to each other and there is always the possibility that my daughter will be reunited with her mother. This is something I have discussed with all of them and if it happens we will deal with it.

She has been with us over a year and her mom or dad still will not except any help of anykind, so her being reunited with her parents is unlikely. In a perfect world, at least one of her parents could get it together and be a parent to her, until then we loveingly accept the role and in the end, if she is reunited then all is great with the world and we will mourn but be happy for her. This is the risk we take.

I would not hesitate to recommend the foster system to anyone. My brother also adopted this way. He got a newborn and an 11 month old. However, his wait was not as long because parental rights were already terminated. So if you do not want to risk losing a child, then you can request a child that has already been cleared to adopt. Foster children are in desperate need of families. Please consider this option. Good luck and many blessings.