Do you have to be infertile to adopt? That seems to be the opinion of the general public. When people find out that we’re adopting, the first question they usually ask is, “Can’t you get pregnant?” Most people assume that if you are adopting it is because you can’t conceive.
However, more and more people are adopting for reasons other than infertility. Now, those who adopt come from every situation imaginable. There are parents who have a few children and for whatever reason have decided not to pursue another pregnancy. There are those who decide to adopt as a ministry. There are even those who decide purposely not to get pregnant in favor of adoption.
I am thrilled to see this change in the adoptive family. When adoption is only something to pursue after infertility, it makes adoption seem somehow less desirable or second best. Of course, those of us who have decided to adopt know that it is not the case. Adoption is an amazing way to build a family whether there are biological children or not. Just like every family is different, the ways to form a family can be different.
There is such a huge need for people to adopt the orphans of the world and I am thrilled that the base of those who consider adoption is widening. As I meet adoptive families, I am beginning to see more and more who have both biological and adopted children. These parents believe that adoption is a benefit both to themselves and the other children in the home. It opens their children’s minds to the experiences of others in the world. Parenting adopted children also brings a special joy because these are children they might never have had if they had not been open to a different way of building a family.