There are some things that “everybody knows” about adoption. This “knowledge” is so well-known, of course, that facts and first-person testimonies, even the evidence of one’s own eyes, apparently aren’t effective.
One couple was showing off their new baby, whom they had adopted at birth here in the U.S., at at a large family-and-friends picnic last summer.
When the new parents told the story of their recent adoption, another guest asserted “Well-Known Fact Number One” confidently:
“That’s impossible. There are no babies to adopt in the United States.”
April Fools! The truth: In the U.S., in-country adoptions outnumbered international adoptions last year.
I would have offered to let the guest change the imaginary baby’s imaginary diaper.
“Well-Known Fact” Number Two: Only the rich can afford to adopt.
April Fools! The truth: Adoption from the child welfare system is free. There are babies available through state adoption as well. For domestic newborn and international adoptions, the average cost of adoption in 2007 was between 20 and 30 thousand dollars. This figure represents the salaries of caseworkers, attorneys, and child care as well as passport and visa fees, background checks, photocopying and court fees, and often either a contribution to the orphanage (in international adoptions) or to the birth mother’s medical expenses (if a U.S. newborn adoption). That’s steep—but no one thinks it odd to spend that much to acquire a car.
“Well-Known Fact” Number Three: The U.S. is the only country willing to adopt children from other countries.
April Fools! The Truth: Citizens in Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Mexico and many other countries adopt children from other lands. The Netherlands and the Scandinavian countries, especially, have significant numbers of children from Korea and China.
(The Truth, Part Two: American children are being adopted in other countries— because there aren’t enough adoptive parents willing or able to parent African-American children.)
Please see these related blogs:
Top Ten Adoption Myths, Part Two:
Debunking Adoption Myths: Myth #1 – Birthmother Changes her Mind after the Adoption is Finalized