Fear is a natural part of the adoption journey. Really, it’s a natural part of any parenting journey. But it only becomes all-consuming and crippling if you allow it to.
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By Mike Berry
I held my brand new baby girl in my arms tightly as she slept sound. She had been ours for just three short months. Our house was a flurry of people stopping by to see her for the first time, celebrating our newfound parenthood, loading us up with diapers and meals — the usual after a baby is born. We were young, wide-eyed, and exhausted. We breathed a sigh of relief once her adoption was final; we had found peace. But it was short-lived for me.
I was afraid.
Nearly every night for the first few months of our adoption journey, I laid awake consumed with fear. The what-ifs piled up in my mind like snowflakes in a blizzard. Some of my thoughts were silly, even foolish. The normal inadequacies of becoming a new parent. But others? Well, others were real and understandable.
Here were some of the things I feared the most, and what I discovered that gave me peace and helped me start sleeping again …
1. What if I fail?
The fear of failure is as common a tale as any. It plagues every parent, not just adoptive parents. Here’s some encouragement: you and I will make a billion mistakes as parents, whether biological or adoptive. After all, we’re human. We’re imperfect. We will screw up. The question is, will you fail backward or forward? Failing forward means you grow, you learn from your mistakes, and you work to do better. You won’t fail as a parent if you live with an attitude of growth.
2. What if she rejects me?
I remember the first time our daughter told my wife she wanted her “real” mommy. My wife was devastated. I remember the first time our daughter told me she hated me. I was devastated. We both felt rejected and useless. The fear of rejection is a real and honest fear amongst adoptive parents. Our hearts are on the line big time with this type of parenting. To be honest, you will have moments where your child will push you away and it will hurt. As hard as it is to do, stay the course, stay consistent, and keep loving them unconditionally.
3. What if she wants her birth mom or dad more than me?
I lived with this fear for a long time. What helped me overcome this was the realization that my child wants her parent — the person who clothes her, feeds her, wipes her tears away, and holds her close when her heart has been broken. That was us, and no one else. I understand this fear because it kept me awake early on in our journey, but then I realized what a parent does and who a parent is. Your child and mine know who their parents are. Sure, there will be times when they throw a fit and say they want their “real” mommy or daddy. And, sure, it will hurt. But deep inside, they know who their parents are.
4. What if people judge us?
Newsflash: the world is judging you and me all. the. time. It’s a natural fact of being a human being, let alone an adoptive parent. This is a truth that you have to live with and ignore when it happens (because it will happen). Have some fun with it, and celebrate your unique family. Most importantly, don’t give people who have no investment in your life any ounce of power over you.
5. What if her birth parents show up and want her back?
In the state of Indiana where we live, the adoption laws are rock solid. Once birth mom or dad signs and the adoption is finalized in court, it’s a done deal. I know some adoptive parents live with this fear because their state does not have laws like ours, and I hate that for them. The best advice I can give you is have faith, keep hope alive, and love your child fiercely every day of their life!
6. What if I can’t love her with all my heart?
This is a common fear I hear from adoptive parents (mostly fathers). I understand because I went through this. Often, the question I’ve heard is, “What if I can’t love them like I love my biological children?” (If you have biological children). Even though we didn’t have biological children, I worried our differences would cause me to love less. That was the farthest thing from the truth. Can I share something with you that I’ve learned over the years? Your ability to love is not a question of capacity, it’s a question of choice. Fact is, you’ve been hard-wired to love; it’s in your DNA as a human being. But will you choose to love? That’s the question. When I realized that I had the capacity, the choice was easy.
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Fear is a natural part of the adoption journey. Really, it’s a natural part of any parenting journey. But it only becomes all-consuming and crippling if you allow it to. The things about fear is this: it only has the amount of power that you give it. It all comes down to your choice. That means that fear is easy to overcome.
So, adoptive parent, hold on. Your fears have no power over you. You were called to love and lead the children who are a part of your family. It’s your destiny. Never doubt that for one second. Your family is telling the world an amazing story of love and compassion. Most importantly, you are telling the world a story of triumph!
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This article originally appeared on Babble. For more like this from Babble, try:
My Divorce Triggered Fears of Abandonment in My Adopted Daughter
The 5 Biggest Misconceptions of Foster Parenting
Please, Stop Telling Infertile Couples to “Just Adopt”
7 Things I Wish I’d Known Before Adopting
What This Dad of 8 Adopted Children Wants You to Know
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