What Makes a Good Adoptive Parent?

Understanding of the uniqueness of adoptive parenthood
Comfort with and full acceptance of parenting a child not born to you
Acceptance and respect for your child’s birth family
Commitment to spending time with your child to build and maintain a positive parent-child relationship
Playfulness and a sense of humour
Flexibility
Tolerance for feelings of ambivalence and negativity
Understanding of your own life experiences and how these can impact your parenting
Readiness to reach out for help from others
Ability to delay gratification and not expect immediate rewards from parenting
Realistic expectations of yourself and your child
Commitment to follow through on maintaining important relationships and connections for your child
Recognition that your child’s curiosity and interest in their birth parents is not a rejection of you
Openness to discussing your child’s questions about birth family and adoption
Readiness to make a lifelong commitment to a child