Open Adoption vs. Closed Adoption
Many children are adopted each year, and with these children being adopted there are adoptions. There are many forms of adoption used throughout the world, but the biggest forms of adoption are closed adoption and open adoption. Open adoptions are adoptions in which the birthmother, the biological mother of an adoptee, is allowed contact with the adoptee. Closed adoption is an adoption where the birthmother of the adoptee is not present in the child’s life in any way shape or form. The birth family is completely cut off and cannot give or receive any information regarding their welfare or the adoptee’s. Closed adoptions are a better option than open adoption and should be mandatory because it would prevent confusion the child may face, allow children to actually fit into their adoptive family, provide privacy and closure and protect families from unstable birthparents.
Having multiple sets of parents creates confusion in a family, and mostly for the child. “Adoption was created out of the recognition that children need to feel secure about who their parents are and what their parent’s role is” (Harnack 84). This is what’s best for the child in most if not all adoptions. The child needs to know who exactly is their parent, not a birthparent but the adoptive parent. Adoptive parents are permanent and a child may not grasp that idea with a tentative parent; the birth parent. When a child does not know who their parent is, it creates trouble. The child may even seek out trouble. Children are developing and such an unstable family creates really harsh developmental issues within the adoptee. All children need to know who their parents are and be able to trust that their parents are not going to leave them.
Having a birth parent around makes things difficult for everyone, but most importantly the adoptee. “The adoptee may have a reduced ability to assimilate into family-Interaction with the birth family may make it harder for the child to assimilate into the adoptive
Having multiple sets of parents creates confusion in a family, and mostly for the child. “Adoption was created out of the recognition that children need to feel secure about who their parents are and what their parent’s role is” (Harnack 84). This is what’s best for the child in most if not all adoptions. The child needs to know who exactly is their parent, not a birthparent but the adoptive parent. Adoptive parents are permanent and a child may not grasp that idea with a tentative parent; the birth parent. When a child does not know who their parent is, it creates trouble. The child may even seek out trouble. Children are developing and such an unstable family creates really harsh developmental issues within the adoptee. All children need to know who their parents are and be able to trust that their parents are not going to leave them.
Having a birth parent around makes things difficult for everyone, but most importantly the adoptee. “The adoptee may have a reduced ability to assimilate into family-Interaction with the birth family may make it harder for the child to assimilate into the adoptive
Cited: Adamec, Christine. ""Open" or "Closed" Adoption?" Family Education. Pearson Education, Inc., 2004. Web. 23 Feb. 2013. <http://life.familyeducation.com/adoption/birth-parents/45775.html>. Anonymous. Personal interview. 22 February 2013. Eldridge, Sherrie. Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew. New York: Dell Publishing, 1999. Print. Harnack, Andrew. Adoption Opposing Viewpoints. Miami: San Val Incorporated, 1995. Print. "Open Adoption: Disadvantages." American Pregnancy Association. N.p., Oct. 2008. Web. 7 Feb. 2013. <http://americanpregnancy.org>.