Adoption Phone-line for adoptive families

A great new post-adoption resource is available for free. Focus on the Family recently launched a post-adoption phone line for adoptive families. The line is staffed by counselors who have been trained by Dr. Karyn Purvis (the author of The Connected Child). Counselors are available Monday through Friday, 8am-10pm EST at 800-A-FAMILY (800-232-6459). It doesn't matter how long ago your adoption took place or what type of adoption you did (international, domestic, or through foster care), if you have questions and need support, please take advantage of this free resource.

Is it the Same?

This is common question that comes from families who are considering adoption. Will bringing home an adoptive child be the same as a biological child? Will I feel as fulfilled with an adoptive child as a biological one?

I can't tell you I know from experience. We started out with a deep need and desire to have a biological child. And that way didn't work. So we adopted our two sons.

So I can't tell you from experience, but I can tell you what I do know:

The same God that sets the lonely in all families (Psalm 68:6), set the lonely in me and my husband. We wanted kids bad. Real bad. It was exciting, joyful, scary. It was a deep longing, a pull, a must-have, close to food and water.

And then we adopted our son.

We were fulfilled. That longing to have a family was satisfied. Our need was met. (until it was time to bring Baby #2 home :) Talking with families with biological children and it seemed like the same satisfaction that they had, we also had.

So all that to say, the same lonely that is in others was in us. And the same satisfaction of building a family was there for us. I don't know if it is the same. But I know I'm not missing anything either.