An Overview of Adopting a Teenager
Adoption is often associated with adopting a child, many people think of adoption as only adopting an infant kid. It is a common thing, the same as adopting a teenager. The difference is that the teenager is much older.
Adoption ranges from children in their toddler phases to the older teenage groups. If you may have thought about adopting a teenager at a certain point, we have highlighted the pros and cons you should consider when it comes to adopting a teenager in this article.
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6 Pros of Adopting a Teenager
1. It is generally easier and quicker
The adoption of a teenager process is generally quicker. This is because of the so many teenagers who are available and need a home, the opposite occurs as you try to adopt an infant. Infants are so in demand among parents who want to adopt them, but for a teenager it is generally easier to get a match easily.
2. It Reduces the Anxiety that comes with Adoption
Adopting a teenager is faster. This means you won’t wait for a long time to adopt your choice teenager, hence less anxiety, and a smooth journey in having a teenager with you at home.
3. It Gives a Home to the Adopted Teenager
Adopting a teenager is an excellent way to provide the much-needed home and family to them. They have waited for long to be a part of a family again. Make them feel comfortable and accepted as part of the new family. Make it easy for them by showing them love like any other family member.
4. It Provides a Healing Process to the Adopted Teenager
It is a wonderful thing in trying to start a healing process in the adopted teenager who has longed to have someone loving them back in their lives.
Read; Parenting Advice For Parents of Teenagers
5. There Will Be a Few Surprises In Knowing the Adopted Teenager
You won’t face the challenge that comes in trying to know your infant. It is easy for a teenager. For instance, if the adopted teenager has any disability, such as learning disability, it binds the previous caregivers to notify you about this as you adopt them.
It gives you ample room to make an informed decision on top of being prepared to handle any special needs they may have before they join your family. A prestige that is not present with giving birth to your baby.
6. The Adopted Teenager can Communicate Easily
You won’t be heaped with guesswork as the teenager can communicate. This is a major challenge for families that adopt infants. Though they might not be speaking English!
5 Major Cons of Adopting a teenager
1 .You Will Miss Potential Bonding Time
The con that comes with adopting a teenager is that you will miss out on the first years of bonding time with the teenager. It will take you a while to get acquainted with the teenager and they may resist you as their new parent at first.
Don’t rush the bonding phase; give yourselves some time to acclimatize to the changes. Once all is settled start on working on bonding by getting to know each other more.
2. You Won’t Have an Opportunity to “Grow Into Parenthood”
The chance to grow into parenting is not in there anymore. It is long gone and you will have to struggle to fit in with the teenager. This may be a little bit easier if you are already a parent before you adopt the teenager.
3. It Thrusts You Straight Into Raising The Adopted Teenager
Many parents who adopt teenagers experience this arc a lot. The process thrusts you straight into raising a teenager which doesn’t give you any experience to back you up as weight in it.
It is an easy process if it’s done in phases without a rush. Compared to raising an infant it is much easier and surmountable too.
4. A Lot of Time is Spend Instilling Your Preferred Values In the Teenager
You raise your baby right away from birth, this gives you the perfect opportunity to immerse them into the kind of morals and values you value as a family. It should be easy from the word go by adopting a teenager.5. They Come From Different Backgrounds
5. They Come From Different Backgrounds
Adopting a teenager will need some time to acclimate them to your lifestyle and morals. Spending their childhood phases elsewhere with different rules and environment makes it more challenging.
For more pros and cons when adopting a teenager see
Bottom-line in Adopting a Teenager
Keep in mind that, no matter the teenager you choose, you should feel confident that it will be the right one and you will have a full family soon.
