Adopting Syrian orphans

[Anonymous]

Hi I wanted to jump on this post as well. I have one child, a six year old boy who is half Filipino/half caucasian and is the kindest, sweetest, silliest and most compassionate child you will ever meet. I love this boy with all my heart and decided to be a stay at home mom because my husband's schedule is so crazy- I wanted to go to the other extreme and be super flexible so that we are not all busy all the time. I turned 40 this year and I don’t plan to have any more children. I have been told I would have to do fertility treatments, but because i don't feel like our family is incomplete I haven't wanted to pursue that and have made peace with having one child. Life is good, but I still feel like I’m not fulfilling some sort of purpose. I’ve looking for jobs I could do from home but nothing is really jumping out at me as being interesting and worthwhile and would be a drop in the bucket compared to my husband's income.

Then this week…the attacks in Syria- I have considered adoption before but have never been moved to do so. I know now that adoption of Syrian refugees is not an option and I am not attached to that specifically, but it was the impetus for thinking of how I could provide a child in need a home. We have a house with plenty of room, a street where kids go out to play freely, and a network of friends and family that support us.

I feel so suddenly moved to do this, but then I look up a few things overwhelmed. Can you help me in finding a place to start? I am in the Loudoun County area if that helps. I would consider infant-6 years old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi I wanted to jump on this post as well. I have one child, a six year old boy who is half Filipino/half caucasian and is the kindest, sweetest, silliest and most compassionate child you will ever meet. I love this boy with all my heart and decided to be a stay at home mom because my husband's schedule is so crazy- I wanted to go to the other extreme and be super flexible so that we are not all busy all the time. I turned 40 this year and I don’t plan to have any more children. I have been told I would have to do fertility treatments, but because i don't feel like our family is incomplete I haven't wanted to pursue that and have made peace with having one child. Life is good, but I still feel like I’m not fulfilling some sort of purpose. I’ve looking for jobs I could do from home but nothing is really jumping out at me as being interesting and worthwhile and would be a drop in the bucket compared to my husband's income.

Then this week…the attacks in Syria- I have considered adoption before but have never been moved to do so. I know now that adoption of Syrian refugees is not an option and I am not attached to that specifically, but it was the impetus for thinking of how I could provide a child in need a home. We have a house with plenty of room, a street where kids go out to play freely, and a network of friends and family that support us.

I feel so suddenly moved to do this, but then I look up a few things overwhelmed. Can you help me in finding a place to start? I am in the Loudoun County area if that helps. I would consider infant-6 years old.

Far more adults died in the attacks than children so, sorry, there are probably not a lot of orphans suddenly available for you to adopt. Please find a way to help that does not involve taking children from a country which has already lost so much hope. I don't think national adoption laws would allow you to adopt from Syria anyway.

[Anonymous]

If you read the above she said she realizes that adoption from Syria is not an option...but started her thinking about adoption.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you read the above she said she realizes that adoption from Syria is not an option...but started her thinking about adoption.

Yes thank you. This is PP. I would be focusing on domestic adoption ...I just was being honest for how my thought process got to that point and it was after watching the news about Syria.

[Anonymous]

If you desire to have a baby, and cannot have one, then by all means research your options. There is nothing wrong with adding a wonderful child to your life via adoption.

If you want to save a baby, then please do not adopt. If you want to save a baby, then find an organization that helps and supports families in need. There are many ways to "save" Syrian babies and believe it or not, adoption is not the answer.

Children are not puppies to be rescued from a shelter.

[Anonymous]

Additionally, when you give birth to a baby, you don't think, "I'm going to save you." You think "I'm so blessed to have this child in my life." While many people in the US have good intentions, the end result can be very damaging to an adoptee.

If the Syrian war is tugging at your heartstrings, then please do get involved. Adoption is simply not the answer. That's all.

[Anonymous]

If you are interested in adopting (either a baby placed privately, or an older child through international adoption or adoption from foster care) go to an info session at Barker, Adoptions Together, or Bethany.

If you can support the idea of taking care of a child for a little while until they go to their parents or a relative, contact your county about foster care. Some kids in foster care do get adopted by their foster families, but most (especially younger ones) return to family and you would need to be ok with that.

Most people will suggest adopting and fostering in birth order, so only taking kids younger than your son. That is generally a wise idea.

[Anonymous]

There are PLENTY of orphaned Syrian kids. That is evident in parts of Turkey and other countries. I don't have any advice on adoption, but I've seen them with my own eyes, begging on the streets. Had a friend who was really attached to one little girl, but we didn't see a legal path forward for adoption, unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

begging does not = orphan.

even being in a country away from parents does not = orphan.

Supporting Red Cross/Red Crescent, Islamic Relief, UNHCR, UNICEF, etc. can help kids whether they are orphans or not (and organizations like these do a lot of family reconnections so kids who got separated can get back with relatives, whether birth parents or extended family).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi I wanted to jump on this post as well. I have one child, a six year old boy who is half Filipino/half caucasian and is the kindest, sweetest, silliest and most compassionate child you will ever meet. I love this boy with all my heart and decided to be a stay at home mom because my husband's schedule is so crazy- I wanted to go to the other extreme and be super flexible so that we are not all busy all the time. I turned 40 this year and I don’t plan to have any more children. I have been told I would have to do fertility treatments, but because i don't feel like our family is incomplete I haven't wanted to pursue that and have made peace with having one child. Life is good, but I still feel like I’m not fulfilling some sort of purpose. I’ve looking for jobs I could do from home but nothing is really jumping out at me as being interesting and worthwhile and would be a drop in the bucket compared to my husband's income.

Then this week…the attacks in Syria- I have considered adoption before but have never been moved to do so. I know now that adoption of Syrian refugees is not an option and I am not attached to that specifically, but it was the impetus for thinking of how I could provide a child in need a home. We have a house with plenty of room, a street where kids go out to play freely, and a network of friends and family that support us.

I feel so suddenly moved to do this, but then I look up a few things overwhelmed. Can you help me in finding a place to start? I am in the Loudoun County area if that helps. I would consider infant-6 years old.

Far more adults died in the attacks than children so, sorry, there are probably not a lot of orphans suddenly available for you to adopt. Please find a way to help that does not involve taking children from a country which has already lost so much hope. I don't think national adoption laws would allow you to adopt from Syria anyway.

I agree with everything else you say, but I'm confused by your logic that adults died so therefore there are no orphans. Adults dying is what leads to orphans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:begging does not = orphan.

even being in a country away from parents does not = orphan.

Supporting Red Cross/Red Crescent, Islamic Relief, UNHCR, UNICEF, etc. can help kids whether they are orphans or not (and organizations like these do a lot of family reconnections so kids who got separated can get back with relatives, whether birth parents or extended family).

There's also alot of fraud. Donating money certainly hasn't helped many orphaned (or displaced, since you're a smart ass) Haitian kids. It's far more advantageous to be hands on if you feel called to help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure if this is the right forum. I can't have children. I see these poor kids on the news who've lost their parents. Instead of using donor eggs to have a child, I'd rather give at least one of these kids a home. Where do I start?

Why don't you look in your own backyard. There are plenty of children here who desperately want a loving family. You are a poster child for look at me, look what a good person I am. So political, your motive. Look in your own backyard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks everyone for shedding light on some of the barriers and difficulties. I'm thinking children just may not be in the cards for us at all.

OP you realize there are SO many children that need homes right? From all over the world (our country included). Why not start with fostering locally?

A child, is a child, is a child. Why is a local child more deserving than the child from Syria.

Not to make this political, but i hear this all the time with refugees. "help your homeless vets before you help the refugees." I think no vet should be homeless, but I also think helping one does not preclude you from helping the other and it's just morally wrong to value one life more over the other.

I think your doing this so people will look at you and say wow, she's amazing. Why isn't a child here in the states deserving of your compassion? Because that won't get you on the stage at the next march.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure if this is the right forum. I can't have children. I see these poor kids on the news who've lost their parents. Instead of using donor eggs to have a child, I'd rather give at least one of these kids a home. Where do I start?

Why don't you look in your own backyard. There are plenty of children here who desperately want a loving family. You are a poster child for look at me, look what a good person I am. So political, your motive. Look in your own backyard.

Because those adoptions are about their needs/rescue complex not the child's needs.

[Anonymous]

Since Trump bombed Syria, we are now allowing Syrian refugees??