Today, the 9th of November 2017, is World Adoption Day! To some, this might just be another day closer to the weekend, but to our family, this day is very special and is acknowledged with much gratitude and a reminder of how blessed we are. Almost 3 years ago a little boy came into our lives through adoption, he had been prayed for, longed for – wanted in every way! This little boy is our son.
As a gesture to create awareness around adoption, on the 9th of November every year, people all around the world (usually those who have been touched by adoption in one way or another) draw a smiley face on their hands. This symbolization of the day might seem quite simple, but the meaning, in fact, is very deep. To me, the little smiley face is a representation of the innocent smile of a child, a child that longingly waits to fall into the loving arms of a family. It represents the emotional smiles that appear on adoptive parents’ faces when they receive the call to say when they have matched with a child. It symbolizes the beaming faces of moms and dads holding their child for the very first time.
What Is World Adoption Day All About?
The first World Adoption Day was launched in 2014, so in essence, it is still in its infant stages. The idea was conceptualized by a man called Hank Fortener. Hank comes from Ohio and has 8 adopted children of his own, he has also fostered over 36 children to date. It is easy to see that he is a huge advocate of adoption and has a great love for the well-being of children around the world.
While Hank’s intention for Adoption Day was to create awareness of the challenges of adoption and to encourage adults to consider building their families in this manner, it has also become a day to celebrate families as a whole. Because families do come in different shapes and sizes after all!
“All children are a blessing”
World Adoption Day is celebrated by related organisations around the globe and many use this day to not only create awareness of adoption, but they also throw fundraising events to help raise funds for non-profit organisations that are involved in the adoption process, for example: orphanages, safety homes, rehabilitation centres and so on. At the same time, families who are wanting to adopt also sometimes take advantage of this day by running a fundraiser of their own, to help them collect the fees they might need to help them adopt a child.
3 things that you can do to help create Adoption Awareness (get your kids and students involved):
- Draw a smiley face on your hand and post it on social media using the following hashtag: #WorldAdoptionDay
- Volunteer at your nearest Baby Home or orphanage.
- Plan a fundraising event and make a donation towards one of your local child-related charities
While I like to use this day to reminisce about how I became a mother and how much I love the sweet boy who made his way into the world a little differently, I always feel a bit sad, despite the smiley face lingering on my hand. You see, adoption comes with challenges, especially for the adoptees. Their story comes with loss and much heartache, despite the fact that they are utterly and completely loved. When I became a mother, someone else lost their child – my heart aches for them, no matter their circumstances and reasoning, losing a child will always be like losing a limb. On this note, I will leave you with this quote:
Through struggles comes strength, and in the realm of adoption, through struggles comes the strength of unconditional love, sacrifice, and forever families. - https://adoption.com/world-adoption-day-changing-the-world-one-child-at-a-time
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Very nice and touching post. I did not know that yesterday was a day of adoption. I'm glad you got the chance to become a parent. You beautified your son's life. Unfortunately, many children in this world are abandoned and may never have the opportunity to feel parental love. I wish you all the best.
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Thanks for sharing @sweetpea, I didn't know that today is world adoption day. I should try and do something among one of the listed.
It would be SO wonderful if you could! I really do hope that more people will become aware of the world of adoption!
I have nothing but admiration and respect for those who put children first. I also understand and know the struggles that adopters must went through.
I am happy for you and your family! God bless
Thanks, very kind of you :)
Thank you so much for sharing this. I had no idea that today is a day to support and celebrate adoption.
I am so happy you were able to have one of the "emotional smiles that appear on adoptive parents’ faces when they receive the call to say when they have matched with a child. "
I will be drawing my smiley face.. after I get out of the shower ;).
Thanks, we waited VERY long to become parents, so when we finally received that call we were elated, it is the most glorious feeling! I love the way I became a mom and hope to start the adoption process again next year, wish us luck!
After the shower is a good idea, our smilies are looking more like squashed spiders now :) Thanks for your support!
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lovely post
Butt I think we should also adopt an animal .
Wow supper
Adoption is noble cause . In India there are so many children's who are living in orphanage.
I am tickled pink that a day has been set for Adoption day. As a researcher of genealogy I learned early on that adoptions took place in such vast numbers that it just staggers the mind (5,000 adoptions in just 1 county in Texas in 1955). I made a point to always be available to fight for the adoptee so they could have their full medical history. What many do not or did not understand was how valuable that medical history is for the individual.
Thank you :)