A two-part series on adoption
From diaperdom to grandchildren, from soccer practice to graduation, from the tooth fairy to teenage, parenthood is one wondrous, heady, incredible journey. Sure there are tense moments and crazy moments and hectic ones and frustrating ones. I have felt more than once that I am just not equal to the job. But I do know for a fact that I never want to get off this treadmill, because raising a kid is just so worth it. There are those who will not have kids which is a matter of choice. But where do you turn when you want to have kids and cannot?
Infertility is not such an uncommon problem; nearly 10% of the population has problems associated with fertility. Any one of the recommended solutions could work for you – Natural methods, medication, surgery, IUI ( Intrauterine Insemination) and IVF ( InVitro Fertilization which can be quite intrusive and painful) There are also other options like using donors and surrogates.
If none of these are right for you, or are just not palatable, there is another door you can open – adoption. Given the number of children who languish in orphanages throughout the world, this seems like a sensible and compassionate decision. But apart from the emotional investment the prospective parents make when they take this step, the process itself can be long and arduous. If the thought of adoption has crossed your mind, you will need to steel yourself for the many harrowing obstacles you will likely encounter.
As Indians it is only natural for us to skip the idea of domestic adoption and to think of adopting a child from back home. But before embarking on the inter-country adoption process, stop first, and think of your status in the country. If you are a permanent resident or a long term visa holder, the law requires you have satisfied a 2 year legal guardianship and co-resident requirement before the child enters the country as your dependant. For more information see here.
