Adopting an Older Child

Prospective parents adopt older children (generally meaning those three years of age and up) for a wide range of reasons. Some feel that they would be best equipped to deal with a child who has already passed the “terrible twos” and other stages of development, while others act in large part out of a humanitarian impulse to take in those who seem routinely passed over in the adoption process. Some may even adopt older children because they see themselves as an “older” couple to being with.

Whatever the case, the adoption of an older child is huge decision that comes with its own share of unique rewards and challenges. Careful consideration is the number one priority for a potential adoptive couple. Two major questions that these parents-to-be must address are:

• Am I ready for a child with a history? It is an unavoidable fact that the older the adoptive children are, the more baggage – emotional, psychological, physical – they will bring. Baggage is not by any means an exclusively negative thing. These kids can enrich the lives of their fellow family members with their cultural and personal backgrounds.However, many adopted children come from traumatic circumstances, and may seem especially hardened, vulnerable, or angry. Know yourself well enough to answer whether you have enough patience to deal with this situation.
• Can I give the sheer emotional support necessary to make him or her feel at home? While dealing with an older child may not involve changing diapers or emergency trips to the pediatrician at 3 A.M., it can require an incredible emotional commitment that might come more naturally for an infant. The abilities of understanding, listening, encouragement, and communication must all be firmly in place before taking on this responsibility.

Contact Us

For more information on the complexities of the adoption process, contact the experienced Austin adoption lawyers of Slater, Kennon & Pugh Ltd.LLP today by calling 512-472-2431.