adoption
Preparing for Marriage
I heard about an 18-year-old boy who was married in a formal church wedding. For his big day, he was decked out in a rented tuxedo and shoes. All went well until the couple was heading out the door, about to leave the wedding reception. The groom's mother, afraid he would not remember to return the shoes with the tux, yelled across the room, "Don't forget to take your shoes off!"
Yes, it seems at wedding time everybody wants to give you some kind of advice — and not just about the wedding night. In fact, if you're planning to get married, chances are someone has asked you, "Do you really know what you're doing?" Well, I'm not going to ask you that, because I'm already confident you don't. Now, I'm not trying to put you down, but I've counseled enough engaged and married couples to realize you simply can't know all that's involved.
You have no idea of the possibilities for real joy and completeness you might experience in marriage. Just watching a sunset together, walking in the woods or listening to your favorite song will take on new meaning. I'm excited for you as you stand on the threshold of this remarkable journey!
But you also may not understand all the dangers involved:
- Each year, more than two million couples divorce, involving about a million children.
- Over the past 20 years, the proportion of people who marry three or more times increased from 4 percent of marriages to 8 percent of the total.
- Children of divorce, particularly women, have a much higher chance of getting divorced themselves than children of intact families.
So what does it take to build a fulfilling, lasting marriage? How can you avoid the problems that commonly end relationships? And how can you keep from becoming a divorce statistic? Read more about pitfalls and promises in "The Dos and Don'ts of a Good Marriage."
Background Information
Agency Adoptions
When it is time to evaluate adoption agencies, consider these pros and cons.
Where Have All the Babies Gone?
The top reasons fewer babies are available to the growing number of couples who want to adopt.
Adopting on Your Own
This advice can help single parents who want to adopt children.
Causes and Characteristics of Attachment Disorder
For adoptive parents, attachment issues can be a huge concern.
Independent Adoption
These are the risks and rewards of adopting without the help of an agency.
Questions and Answers
Are adopted children more likely to be rebellious than children raised by biological parents?
Answer
How would you go about telling a child he or she is adopted, and when should that disclosure occur?
Answer
Review Frequently Asked Questions
Stories
Reflections on Bonding With an Adopted Child
Bonding with an adopted child can take time — and great patience.
A Second Chance at Life
Two adopted children arrived from the most unlikely of sources.
Adoption as Grace
How does enlarging your family reflect God's love?
An Act of Grace
In the midst of ethical ambiguity, one infertility treatment is a welcome development.
Climbing the Hills
A father tells his story of adopting his daughter from Russia.
If you've been through a experience related to this topic, we invite you to share your story with others.Share Your Story
Other Things to Consider
Where is God in the Midst of All My Troubles?
So many cry out to Him in times of need, but is God really listening? And, more important, does He care?
Related Topics
Life Pressures: Working Moms, Stay-at-Home Moms
Relationships: Blended Families, Divorce, Parents and Adult Children, Caring for Elderly Parents
