One of the most crucial variations in adoption is the issue of domestic adoption versus international adoption. When celebrities adopt, this almost always involves international adoption. Because of this, many are debating if this element is taking away focus on the countless babies and children that are in need of homes; child that would find homes if domestic adoption was encouraged. While it is certainly a need to save children overseas, the United States has babies and child in need, as well. Some may argue that a couple should give concern to their own country, before extending a hand to a child through international adoption. The variations in adoption of domestic versus international continues with the debate of some adding the fact that while children in the States are in need, those overseas are in more dire circumstances and living conditions are much more unbearable.
If adopting, especially in regard to domestic adoption, one will find great variations in adoption in regard to this being done as an open or a closed adoption. The easier and most simple domestic adoption will be a closed one. With this variation, the birth mother will not be given information as to the whereabouts or identity of the adoptive parent/s. Many variations in adoption will occur with an open adoption. Depending on the circumstances of why a child will not be living with his or her birth parent, that birth parent will have some degree of communication with their child. This can be monthly letters, an exchange of photographs and may even include visits between birth parent and adoptive child. One must consider that even though this variation may be a bit more difficult for the adoptive parents, it is usually done in the best interest of the child.
The degree to which an adopting parent feels that they can handle the variations in adoption in regard to open adoptions must be carefully considered. Some parents will go into such a situation expecting to become great friends with a birth mother, and this is not always the case. Alternatively, some have found to have wonderful relationships. No matter which degree of friendliness both sets of parents will feel about each other, one should always consider the needs of the child. If a judge has issued an order for open adoption, there is usually a very good reason.
Because of the widespread media coverage of international adoptions of babies, one of the variations in adoption that does not seem to be given enough focus is the need for loving parents to adopt older children. Sometimes being taken away from their birth parents because of the parents drug problems or other issues, these children are in need of love and compassion as much as babies are. Often older children are overlooked and one should put careful thought into the wonderful feeling of truly changing a child’s life. An older child will be well aware of the love that is involved when adopted and this can lead the child into a completely different future; one of caring, kindness, gratitude and relief.