I have always loved children.
I remember back in campus we would have discussions with my friends on how many kids we all wanted and amongst all my friends, am the only who wanted 4 kids!! That is until I had one of my own, then all that changed..Hahaha.
I often think that the reason I have stayed 12 years without getting another one is the idea of giving birth. I fear pain like nothing else, maybe because am the last born and we tend to love ourselves a little too much.
You see , I got pregnant in my last year of campus. This means that I graduated heavily pregnant in October 04 and gave birth in Nov the next month. It wasn't an easy time. I remember going to my Gynae on the due date and he told me I had to rush to Hospital as soon as possible because I had started dilating. Even though I didn't feel any pain at that time but he insisted. So I had to be rushed and booked into hospital still giggling with my friends because.. no labor pains yet! Then they decided to induce labor and the nightmare of pain began!!
It lasted 5 short hours and my Gynae decided to get me to theater for C-section. I couldn't wait, I just wanted the pain to stop.
After that, every time I thought of labor pain, I shivered. Twelve years later, Here I am with my wonderful daughter and thinking of adopting.
I have gone ahead and contacted a social worker who has advised on the adoption process in Kenya. One thing is you cant adopt a child of opposite sex if you are single but if you are a single parent then you can. Also, you can only adopt a child from 6 months old, not earlier. they place the child with you for 3 months and monitor the bonding. If it goes well, then you hire a good lawyer for the court process and in one year or less the child is legally yours.
Sounds easy right? Of course am apprehensive, will I love the child wholly and completely as my own? Will my family accept that child and not treat them as an outsider? Am I ready for that kind of lifetime commitment both financially and emotionally? Shouldn't I just go ahead and get another of my own?
I like the idea of adoption and I pray to God to guide me in the right direction.
Anyone who has gone through this can share their thoughts with me.
An adopted child IS your own.
I agree.
I was adopted by my Aunt and Uncle when I was 6, along with my two sisters, 3 and 11. A cousin of mine and his wife adopted a Chinese baby, who is now 17 and glad to have been raised by loving parents. My recently discovered Aunt and Uncle were both put up for adoption as babies, had wonderful up bringing, are healthy happy members of society, and now also know there birth mother, and long lost family, but still have the people who raised them as the true family of the heart. So adoption, yes, if you have love to give, don't be afraid. It is one of the greatest gifts you can give a child.