Why can't an Adoptive Parent (AP) just be a parent and an active advocate/activist be an advocate/activist?

Question

I mean, being a parent and an ACTIVE advocate are two different things. And in a sense, any parent is (or should be) an advocate of their child... it doesn't necessarily mean they need to change the world also. Do you get what I'm asking?

Answer 1

I advocate for many things.... Clean Air--Poulation Zero--reform of several systems.... I advocate for School changes, for mental health changes and for Insurance changes...

Some people advocate and the rest wait to see what happens....

Answer 2

Huh?

Answer 3

Because your son is adopted.  This screwed up system will be handed down to him.   It will affect him someday.

Answer 4

As an AP I don't consider myself and activist but I do offer my support and try find find ways to change the negative attitudes attached to adoption by society in general.

While I maintain a positive outlook on adoption in my own home I realize that the world outside often has a different attitude. Because these attitudes can affect my child I choose to educate and spread awareness when I can.

Answer 5

A person can do whatever s/he chooses.  If a person has an adopted child, then part of advocating for that child is advocating for his rights with regard to adoption.  You mention "changing the world."  Adoption IS a part of your adopted child's world.  However you choose to advocate is up to you.

Answer 6

I get what you are asking.  Being a parent is a full time job.  Many of us have/had 2 full time jobs if we are working outside of our homes.  There's just so much time in the day to get things done.  Part of our job as parents--adoptive or otherwise--IS to advocate for the child WHATEVER their issues.  Not all adoptees have issues that require reform so those issue don't have to be YOUR issues..  They were/are not my (almost 30 year old) daughter's issues so they are not mine.   I'm not a politician and I have a full time job and I have other interests so I'll let those who have an invested interest and want to work on reform work on those issues.  (If they were HER issues then I would fight with a vengence and nothing could stop ME until there was reform!!)

I think reform should be the work of GROWN adoptees who want reform.  Parenting is a full time job and if we spread ourselves too thin during crucial years of raising kids then our parenting would suffer and so would the kids.  Parenting has to be our #1 priority and our #1 job.

Answer 7

You can be...there is NOTHING wrong with you doing what you promised your child and the birth parent.  Be an awesome parent and advocate for your child as any other parent would.

You can just be a parent...a great parent.  Don't let anyone else tell you different.