My family has been formed in many ways. My first child was adopted from the foster-care system as an infant. My second two children came the old-fashioned way. My last child was adopted at nearly 4 years old from an orphanage in Haiti. I’ve been blessed to experience the beauty of childbirth, as well as the joy of meeting an adopted child for the first time. Each experience was equally emotional and life-changing. However, the experience of adopting has given me a unique perspective on motherhood, teaching me some new truths, and reinforcing what I believe to be true about parenting.
Blood does not determine a family.
Probably the most common concern I hear from people who are considering adoption is whether or not they will be able to love a child that isn’t “their own”. I can tell you, though, that the moment my first son was placed in my arms, he was very much my own. My love for my children is not dependent on our biological connection. Adoptive families, step-parents, and blended families know well that family bonds transcend biology, and that family connections can be formed in many ways.
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