By Karen Best Wright, www.RaisingYourGrandchildren.com
Mike made the following comment on one of my earlier posts:
Hi! Ok we are not really grandparents raising grandchildren but we are 57 and thinking about adopting two children from foster care. They are 9 and 12 so we could be grandparents. We have raised our own children we are about to have babies but live a long way away. Can you give us your thoughts?
Mike, I have a couple of thoughts on this subject. First, I think it is a wonderful idea. Second, I would caution you to really know what you are doing. I personally know of two couples, one were grandparents in their 70's with granddaughters, and the other were foster parents, who had gotten severely disturbed children due to past physical and sexual abuse. They were wonderful parents until they were being accused of horrible things themselves. Their desire to help these desperate children ruined their lives.
Now, please DO NOT let me scare you off and decide to not adopt. I just mean do your research, be intuitive, and get help from professionals on how to deal with children who probably have come from tough backgrounds.
Adoptable foster children need more adults like you and your wife. This is something I have always wanted to do myself, but the timing has always been wrong. I always felt I would someday adopt a son. If I ever do, I will certainly be getting a bit old.
Good luck. Let us know if you really do adopt and how it is going. It sounds like they would be lucky children.
Karen Wright
A grandmother in love with her grandchildren
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