Member-only story
A Guide to the Easiest Countries to Adopt a Baby From
And a warning (often neglected) for those thinking of adopting abroad.
(To save you time: the list of the easiest countries to adopt from starts in the middle of the article, but before that, there are some important considerations).
My mother had adoptive parents. Although later on in her life she met her biological parents — almost by accident — the real ones for her were always the adoptive ones.
She always talked about them on a very positive note, and I bet she loved her adoptive parents more than many biological kids love theirs. Every time she recalls some moment with them, I feel in her words the enhanced gratitude she has since they chose to raise her.
Adoption, on the other hand, is not a simple decision that should be made hastily.
Once I read that there is ONE question a person should make before
I will also share with you some personal stories I have heard or read about. Some of them are positive, others are not, but all of them are real.
Why Would Someone Refuse to Adopt From Their Own Country?
First of all, “refuse” here may not be the proper verb. There are three major reasons for someone not to adopt within their own country.
1st: In other countries (like mine), there are many more prospective parents seeking to adopt a child than there are children for adoption. With high competition, unless you are a wealthy couple married for years, your chances of having an adoptive child are meager.
2nd: In other countries, bizarre laws can cause traumatic experiences. For example, in Brazil, there were cases where biological parents, years after abandoning the child and when they were already adopted and living with a new family, went to court to recover custody. And they won.
3rd: Due to immense bureaucracy, adoption in some countries takes years and is nearly impossible.
