English 1101 - Meaningful Life

Jennifer Achim

Professor White

English 1101

11 September 2015

Meaningful Life

Starting a family is one of the greatest accomplishments in this world.  Having the opportunity to raise little ones of your own and to encounter all the challenges and achievements, that comes with being a parent, is something that everyone should be able to experience in their lifetime. Unfortunately, not everything goes as planned and some families experience infertility issues. Infertility makes it challenging for people to have biological children. People that experience these difficulties often look at adoption as a solution. A couple, that I personally know, has been struggling to conceive for quite some time now. As a last resort, in order to fulfill their desire to have their own adorable, miniature human, they chose to adopt. People may choose to adopt for various different reasons. Regardless of the reasons for adoption, adopting a child can be very rewarding, but the process itself can have many disadvantages, which are important to consider in the decision making process.

        A big drawback to adoption is the long and agonizing process necessary to adopt. This process can pose a financial burden on a family looking to adopt. The couple, that I have previously mentioned has collected donations, held fundraisers, and raised over fifteen thousand dollars needed for their adoption. Although they were very fortunate in this aspect, there are many people who would like to adopt but the costs of the process can be a huge burden. This can be a big set back for many people who are experiencing fertility issues and desire to have a family. Providing for a child is one thing, however not everyone has the money to pay for the expenses, especially at such high upfront costs. Perhaps if adoption wasn’t so costly more orphaned children would be in homes with loving parents.

        Furthermore, it is important to look at the emotional aspect of adopting. Often times when people choose to adopt there is an emotional process that tags along with it. For instance, after raising an adopted child for many years, my aunt decided to tell her daughter she was adopted. Although my cousin took the news quite well, there are many children who do not. Some children become resentful towards their adoptive parents. This can be very emotional for the parents and the child. When this sort of issue arises it takes time and possibly counseling to be resolved.