The decision-making process

Well, I have made the announcement to almost everyone. I am very excited to have finally made the decision to adopt. Sharing it with my friends makes it all seem more real. Some people will find it a shock that I have chosen to adopt. That's ok.

It's taken a few years for me to get to this point. I've spoken about this with a select group of friends and family for years. I've read books, researched adoption countries and agencies, spoken with Child and Family Services. I know I am doing the right thing. I have noticed though, that I am of a rare breed. Not many women my age consider adopting alone. Somehow, I always knew I would. I try to explain to people that my decision to adopt now is because I am ready to be a mom. It doesn't mean that I don't want to have biological children or that I think I will never get married. I mean sheesh, I'm only 32. But anyone who knows me know how international my life has been. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love kids. I'm ready to be a mom now and there are kids who needs home right now, at this moment. It's as simple as that.

Reaching the decision about adopting fro Kazakhstan was not a hard one, although it's the third country I have chosen. First, I wanted to adopt from China, but this year they decided not to accept single mother applications anymore, along with a host of other disqualifications. Then I decided on Mongolia, but once I really got going I decided that having to wait 3 years until I meet the minimum required age for single mothers is too long. And so I chose Kazakhstan.

I want to be clear that I understand why so many people are asking me why I am not adopting from the U.S. Again, there are many personal reasons for that. First, I have always wanted to do this internationally, even a decade before Angelina made it trendy. The wait for a healthy baby in the states is years and that's if you are married! Also, I am sure you will understand me when I explain that adopting a special needs child is not something that I feel I can do on my own right now. It will be enough of a challenge for me to raise a baby girl on my own. And so there you have it, that's why I am not adopting from the U.S.

Everyone is asking why Kazakhstan... There are many reasons. First, I have a long history with the former USSR. As a teenager, I spent more than 1.5 years in various parts of the republics on peace missions toward the end of the Cold War. I spoke Russian at that point and my experiences in Russian and Ukraine forever changed who I am as a person. The people of the former Soviet Union are warm, hospitable, loving people with hearts larger than I have seen in most places. Second, I want to adopt an Asian baby. Kazakhstan allows single mother adoptions. I am not sure where this comes from, but I have always pictured myself with an Asian baby girl. I don't analyze that too much, I just accept it as a fact. Third, Kazakhstan is a Muslim country. Therefore, there are less instances of FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome) and developmental delays due to alcohol and drug abuse. Fourth, while sparse, Kazakhstani orphanages are very well run and maintained by warm, loving people. These are just a few of my reasons. Oh and I forgot to mention - Kazakhstani babies don't poop so there will be no poopy diapers!!! LOL! jk

And so now you know how I came to my decision to adopt from Kazakhstan. I see this decision as a gift both to myself, my family an my friends. Most of all, I see it as a gift to a child who is on her way to me whom I will love more than anything.

Thank you for reading my blog. I hope you will continue to join me on my journey.