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I wish more people would consider adoption
Emily Plihal
for Smoky River Express
I’ve always considered parenting the most important “job” in the world.
Growing up, I gained so much respect for my parents (and later step parents) for all their hard work, love and consideration throughout the years.
Often children (even when the children are in their 20s or older) do not have an idea of how much their parents love and care for them. Parents essentially give up their life for the 18 years their children are in their household.
Perhaps part of the reason I’m so thrilled with the idea of parenting is because I’ve seen my two older sisters experience the thrills and negatives of being parents.
My eldest nephew just turned 14 last week, and my youngest niece will be five in January. These four blessings to my sisters’ lives have also been such a thrill for me and my parents.
My eldest niece just learned to send me messages from her mom’s email address. I can’t express to you how excited I am when I open my email and see an email from lietzkids (my sister Katia’s three kids).
Usually it’s something like, “Hi Anty, I miss you lots,” or if I emailed something in return, “I dont unerstan.”
Even in conversation, my dad and I like to comment on their cute little sayings. Dad was playing hide and seek with the three youngest, when Rebecca came up to him and said, “Grandpa, I was hiding in the clothes hamster.” Or when dishing out ice cream, Matthew said, “Grandpa, are we having Metropolitan ice cream?” One Julia said I cannot repeat, although I know dad is thinking right now about where the oldest grandson Kieran goes to school.
When I consider how much I love my extended family, I guess how much parents love their own children. I understand how a parent would want to give their life to save their child’s.
What I don’t get is when people say they want children more than anything in the world, but they are not willing to adopt a child.
Since I was a teenager, I’ve always said I would consider adopting children when I am financially secure.
This is partially because I always look at the Alberta government’s adoption website and it tears up my heart. Imagine parents giving up three or four children as wards of the state.
Susan and I were just looking at the adoption website and there are roughly 40 kids listed who need homes. Some of these children are part of a family, three or four children looking for a home together.
I don’t understand why these young sweeties have no home, no parents, no one to love them. Sure, many of them have developmental problems, but they all need homes to call their own.
It irks me when I see actors and actresses going over seas to adopt children. Sure, those children need homes too, but think about all the kids in our communities who are in foster homes and need permanent residences.
I have a few friends who are adopted, and their adoptive parents were their salvation.
I’ve heard many horror stories about the interim period between homes. I don’t want any child to have to live like that.
Many people yearning for children would make great adoptive parents, even to those with learning problems.
Please, if you want to take a child on, make sure you check out adoption.
We need to take care of these precious babies who all deserve safe, happy homes.
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