If you are thinking about adoption, you have a significant advantage over those who unintentionally become pregnant. You have time to research what parenting involves, so that less of it will come as a surprise.
Here are some key things to read up about and consider.
1. The financial cost
Children can change your life in such a positive way. You could say that it is impossible to place a value on that. Nevertheless, the world does put a financial value on the many things you will need to fork out for as a parent. Even if your child never pursues an expensive college education, there will be plenty to pay for, including food, clothing, school materials, haircuts, medical bills and extra seats at the cinema. Being certain you can afford it is crucial.
2. The time involved
You will need to dedicate a lot of your time to looking after your child. You might need to take days off work to care for them if they are sick. You might spend hours trying to explain math when they come home with homework they need to hand in the next day. And you might need to dedicate considerable time to ferrying them around to sports practice and their friends’ houses.
3. The change to your routine
Maybe you’ve always thought of yourself as a free spirit. Someone free to hop on a plane to Italy at the drop of a hat when they see a cheap flight, or to move jobs whenever a better offer comes up. A child will place considerable limits on this freedom. You might have to turn down a better job because the hours won’t work with parenting, or forget about impromptu vacations and take them when the kids are off school, meaning prices are at their highest and destinations are at their busiest.
Giving thorough consideration to these and other things is important for you and any child you adopt. If you are ready to begin the journey, learning more about the next steps is a good place to begin.