CHILD ADOPTION

Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the “parenting” for another and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities from the original parent or parents. Unlike guardianship or other systems designed for the care of the young, adoption is intended to effect a permanent change in status and as such requires societal recognition, either through legal or religious sanction. Of course, the child is entitled to basic necessities of life in the form of food, clothing, shelter, education and affection according to the Nigerian Child’s Rights Act 2003. Child adoption has not been gaining so much attention especially in Africa as it ought to due to common reasons such as poverty, ignorance, abuse tendencies amongst others. Rather, more homes are being built for the motherless children as well as the less privileged. Some believe that only couples who are not yet able to produce biological off-springs as a result of one problem or the other are the only ones fit for the position of adopting a child. It should not be so because child adoption itself is a choice. Couples who have children can also decide to add more to their family size by adopting.

Nowadays, adults are becoming more violent. They maltreat and abuse that child they once had pity on with a promise to the authorities or the relatives of such a child to love and care for him or her. Some women display preferential treatments in favour of their biological children at the expense of the adopted one(s) using the adopted one to pamper the “legitimate child”. As an individual, it would be better for you to stay out of their lives than to bring them into your home/family and treat them like slaves. It is better for those vulnerable kids to grow up with other children like themselves in places like the monastery, motherless homes or other facilities provided by the government for child welfare, better still their biological parents (if they must) rather than being brought to a home where they would lack love, care, freedom of expression and good self esteem just because of the ugly circumstances surrounding their childhood. Women must learn to be nice to every child they come in contact with because they have been created to care and bear with children whatever burden they may be carrying. Most of these children out there, grow up to become someone great in life because of the difficulties they went through while growing up, turned around to make them better persons in the society.

When you adopt a child, the entire future of that child is being put in your hands and you automatically become responsible to the outcome of the child because it is what you teach him or her that he or she will grow with. So, tell me, how can there be a positive result when you make a child feel less of a human? It is better for you to stay away from child adoption than to adopt with a plan to abuse the child later. Things to be considered when going for a child adoption are:

·         Are you financially capable of caring for the child?

·         Does your spouse/family agree with the plan?

·         Is the child in question willing to stay with you?

·         The age bracket of the child you are willing to adopt…

·         Are the genetic make up of the child important?

·         Will you be able to handle a child with special needs?

·         Can you tolerate the child’s weaknesses with patience and love without an explosion of aggression and anger?

Child adoption is not by force but by choice only for those with a godly heart. Help train a child today and secure a future for tomorrow. Remember that your own child will soon be away from home and just like you treated other children, he/she will be treated.