This guest blog post was written by Nina Pena.
This article voices and shares the strong desire to adopt a child and obtain a family. It gives details of the website, craigslist.org, and how it is allowing the solicitation of children. This is especially for parents who are trying to adopt. It explains that craigslist is a free way for birth mothers and perspective parents to communicate about possible adoption proceedings.
Furthermore, within the article is a couple, Irene and Greg, who are using this website in hopes to adopt a child and have a family someday. Irene and Greg share that they have gotten negative feedback from other people because they are using this website this is soliciting children. However, they are still using it because they have faith in that the benefits are outweighing the negatives. In addition to using the website, Greg and Irene have tried using other means to find a child including using Facebook, creating their own website and having a toll-free number. However, they still have not been able to adopt. They share their struggles with the process and so called “birth mothers” who have contacted them and then retracted their contact or arrangements to meet.
There are definite positives and negatives for using Craigslist to find children that are ready to be adopted. First, the website is a place for perspective parents and biological parents to communicate without going through an agency where it can be extremely expensive. Craigslist is also free, which is a major part of what draws people to the website in the first place. Lastly, like the article states, using Craigslist allows for perspective parents to maintain direct and personal control over the process.
Still, there are sure negatives for using craigslist as a means to find children. First, these biological mothers and families are putting up these children on the website similar to material items like books or couches. In addition, perspective parents are putting up their information and setting themselves up to be vulnerable and be taken advantage of. People, not even birth mothers, can take advantage of the fact that the perspective parents are desperate to adopt. With that individuals can play with perspective parent’s emotions and even ask for outrageous items before even meeting. It sets the perspective parents up for being disappointed yet again.
The yearning to have a family and adopt a child is strong. People are willing to do whatever it takes and by any means to obtain a child. However, are we exploiting children and taking advantage of perspective parents by using craigslist? Or are we using the internet in a positive, free way to take control over the matching and adoption process?
To read the article in full, click here.
