“Adoption Is Not The Same As Having Your Own Child”

Adoption: A Different Path, the Same Destination

Many believe adoption is not the same as having a biological child. In some ways, this is true. However, in the most important way, it is not. Both adoption and childbirth are different paths, but they lead to the same destination—parenthood. In the blog post below, Creating a Family explores this idea. It compares adoption to traveling to two unique places—different experiences, yet equally meaningful. The emotions that come with adoption are just as powerful as those of biological parenthood. The excitement, the nervous anticipation, and the unforgettable first meeting all create lasting memories. This article takes a deeper look at the strong emotional bonds formed through adoption. It also challenges the common myth that love, and family must be defined by biology.

Excerpt from Creating a Family blog article below.

“The statement that adoption is not the same as having a child of your own is both remarkably accurate and remarkably wrong. The first part— “not the same as”—is quite true. Adoption and giving birth are two very different ways of creating your family. Just as New York City and Paris are two different vacation destinations, or chocolate and vanilla are two different flavors of ice cream. People who have never adopted have never felt the overwhelming intensity of first meeting their child through adoption. It’s hard to explain the giddy anticipation mixed with unnamed anxiety. This combination of emotions helps etch even the tiniest details into your memory forever– the colors, the smells, the words, the emotions. ”

Read the article (Clicking this link will take you to The National Infertility & Adoption Education Nonprofit Creating a Family website)

Learn More About Adoption at ACI

Pam joined Adoption Center of Illinois in July of 1991. She graduated from the University of Iowa where she earned her bachelor’s degree focusing on psychology, child development and counseling. Pam works with expectant parents in northern, central and southern Illinois and says “Parents come to us during a challenging time in their lives. I feel privileged to be able to help the people I work with so they can make well-informed choices. They amaze and inspire me every day.”