Over 40 Adoption, Older Parent Adoption - Questions to ask when adopting at 40 and beyond...

09/05/06

Questions to ask when adopting at 40 and beyond...

Posted by : Michelle Vandepas in Older Parent Adoption Blog at 02:38 pm , 351 words, 53 views
Categories: Adopting in your 40s and Beyond

Are you in your forties or fifties and thinking of adoption? Maybe you are even older in

your sixties, but have a spouse who is younger than you? It’s not too late to start or continue your family. Many countries, (including the USA) are encouraging to older parents looking to adopt.

In a few upcoming posts I’ll be exploring different countries and who is ‘older adoption’ friendly.

Before we explore specifics, here are a few things to think about as an older person hoping to become a parent.

What age works for our family? Should we adopt an infant? Toddler, School age or older child? Perhaps you already have experience raising children that would benefit when adopting an older child.

How is my health? Will that affect the age of the child I wish to adopt? Can I do without sleep for a few months if I adopt an infant? Need I worry about being one-hundred-years old when my child starts school?

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for California

How do I expect my energy level to be at 60, 70 and beyond? What age child would be appropriate for me and my family at each age?

Do I have siblings, extended family, other children that might pick up the slack for me in my older years. (or, on the contrary, object if you adopt children at this late stage?)

What will people think? What will I say when the checker tells me how cute my grandchild is? You gotta have a little bit of a sense of humor about it. After all, we all get older!

Do you have parents that you’ll also be caregivers for? Is it realistic for you to do both?

Would volunteering for a baby rocking program fulfill your baby need? Is it parenting that interest you helping children? Be pragmatic about your choices!

Do I have time to wait? Understand that it may take a year or two or even longer to complete an adoption from beginning to end.

In the following posts I'll start looking at specific counties.

More info at on adopting at 40 and beyond here.

To be continued……

2 comments

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: claire [Member]

Two points I'd like to make:
1. Just a little something that I've heard from people adopting toddlers; they often have terrible sleeping problems the first few months, while some babies are great sleepers! So it isn't always wise to let the "sleepless" night issue be a major part of the decision of what age child to adopt.

2. I think you need more than a sense of humor in dealing with commnents about your age. You have to be strong and intelligent in your answers, because quickly enough your child is old enough to understand them, and they need to be reassured that their parents aren't going to keel over and drop dead any minute!

Thanks,
Lisa

Permalink 09/05/06 @ 20:26

Comment from: Michelle Vandepas [Member]

· http://older-parent.adoptionblogs.com/

Lisa, Based on your comment I just asked for some comebacks to keep our sense of humor.. If you have any to share please add them here:
http://older-parent.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/title-238

Permalink 09/06/06 @ 20:56

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