November 23, 2014
What is adoption to you?
National Adoption Day was yesterday, and it is such an important day for the adoption community. On this day each November, the adoption community comes together to spread awareness and support of the over 100,000 children waiting to find permanent families. Heartwarming stories abound on this day, as courtrooms all over the country see tens, twenties, forties, even up to eighty adoptions finalized in one day. Children who’ve been waiting in foster care for years and couples striving to grow their families and become parents come together in a beautiful show of support, love, commitment and community. We love seeing so many families grow on this day!
In honor of National Adoption Day we polled our community and collected some of our favorite responses from around the web to see what “Adoption Is” to them. We were so inspired by people’s answers and thought we’d share some here with you today. It’s a beautiful act of fate that National Adoption Month and Day occur during a month where thankfulness is the key word of the season and lights up all we do. We couldn’t be more thankful for adoption, and for YOU, for being part of our community.
“Adoption is about finding families for children, not finding children for families.” Dr. Joyce Maguire Pavao, author of The Family of Adoption. / America Adopts!
“Open adoption is three families, the birth mother, the birth father and ours.” Meg Nowak / America Adopts!
“Adoption is forever.”
“We look at adoption as a very sacred exchange. It was not done lightly on either side. I would dedicate my life to this child.” Jamie Lee Curtis
“Ad0ption is not for the faint of heart.” Adoption Network Law Center
“Adoption is commitment.” Diane Straub
“Adoption is fear, hope, and endless amounts of love all wrapped up into one.”
“Open adoption means that I’m still a significant part of my son’s life. I didn’t give up my child, I gained a wonderful family.” Terrie Shmitka / America Adopts!
“Adoption is patience.”
“Adoption isn’t a birth mother’s rejection, but an unconditional love that inspires her to put herself last and to do all she can for her baby.” Mary Hines / birth mother
“Adoption is just another way to create a family. It’s not a cure-all, and it sure isn’t perfect. But it’s rooted in love. And that’s how you know everything’s going to be okay.”