I’m glad to hear that your children are okay. My twins were born at 37 weeks, and we were spared the NICU though I was worried about an early birth my whole pregnancy (37 wks is considered full term for twins.) You NICU parents are made of strong stuff. Thankfully there is so much more that can be done to help little ones survive these d…
I’m glad to hear that your children are okay. My twins were born at 37 weeks, and we were spared the NICU though I was worried about an early birth my whole pregnancy (37 wks is considered full term for twins.) You NICU parents are made of strong stuff. Thankfully there is so much more that can be done to help little ones survive these days... heart surgeries in utero even.
I don’t feel any I’ll will towards pro-life people. I do worry about the lack of a social safety net that most European countries have - along with abortion limits between 12-15 weeks. The US is a different situation.
I think adoption is a good solution for many, but it’s never as easy as people think it is. My good friend adopted sisters through the foster system, and they both suffered a lot of trauma at the hands of their birth families. It’s a full-time job managing the emotional problems & psychological issues that they have. She can’t work. One child was in a mental hospital for several months for suicidal tendencies. Even without mental health problems there is a deep loss for many who are adopted, I’ve read, and for the mothers who gave them up. I don’t discourage it but I think people need to be realistic and not go into it with rose colored glasses.
There are safety nets but they are under major attack right now. I donate to one such program, and while in HS my daughter volunteered, where single women raising children live in a home (called Well of Mercy) where they work to care for one another and the home, have child care and attend college. They stay there until they are ready to move into their own places. They have rules to follow (no drugs, alcohol, men at the home, etc). It's a wonderful program and if I didn't live in another state I would likely be volunteering myself.
You're right about the complications of adoption. I know many who have adopted and some even within the same family have more challenges than others.....but none have said they would rather not be born. Complications tend to be around a sense of abandonment, so more work in providing psychological supports early on is most helpful. Friends (who dated from 8th grade until college graduation -- then getting married, attempted to adopt twin boys at the age of 5. So many anger issues....one almost set the home on fire. Sadly, they couldn't continue with the adoption.
On the other hand I had a coworker who had three abortions---basically used it as contraception. She kept her fourth pregnancy and he was born with Down's syndrome. I don't know for a fact because we lost touch more than two decades ago, but I'm thinking he brought her tremendous joy and like with all children, plenty of challenges.
I’m glad to hear that your children are okay. My twins were born at 37 weeks, and we were spared the NICU though I was worried about an early birth my whole pregnancy (37 wks is considered full term for twins.) You NICU parents are made of strong stuff. Thankfully there is so much more that can be done to help little ones survive these days... heart surgeries in utero even.
I don’t feel any I’ll will towards pro-life people. I do worry about the lack of a social safety net that most European countries have - along with abortion limits between 12-15 weeks. The US is a different situation.
I think adoption is a good solution for many, but it’s never as easy as people think it is. My good friend adopted sisters through the foster system, and they both suffered a lot of trauma at the hands of their birth families. It’s a full-time job managing the emotional problems & psychological issues that they have. She can’t work. One child was in a mental hospital for several months for suicidal tendencies. Even without mental health problems there is a deep loss for many who are adopted, I’ve read, and for the mothers who gave them up. I don’t discourage it but I think people need to be realistic and not go into it with rose colored glasses.
There are safety nets but they are under major attack right now. I donate to one such program, and while in HS my daughter volunteered, where single women raising children live in a home (called Well of Mercy) where they work to care for one another and the home, have child care and attend college. They stay there until they are ready to move into their own places. They have rules to follow (no drugs, alcohol, men at the home, etc). It's a wonderful program and if I didn't live in another state I would likely be volunteering myself.
You're right about the complications of adoption. I know many who have adopted and some even within the same family have more challenges than others.....but none have said they would rather not be born. Complications tend to be around a sense of abandonment, so more work in providing psychological supports early on is most helpful. Friends (who dated from 8th grade until college graduation -- then getting married, attempted to adopt twin boys at the age of 5. So many anger issues....one almost set the home on fire. Sadly, they couldn't continue with the adoption.
On the other hand I had a coworker who had three abortions---basically used it as contraception. She kept her fourth pregnancy and he was born with Down's syndrome. I don't know for a fact because we lost touch more than two decades ago, but I'm thinking he brought her tremendous joy and like with all children, plenty of challenges.