BellaOnline Forums Family Adoption Adopting a second child

I have a seven year old son i adopted when he 21 months old. I would like to adopt another child but I am unsure which direction to go. I feel that my sn would benefit greatly from asibling. That relationship would be very good for him. I am a single parent. My dilemma is to determine wheher to adopt another boy ora girl and if the child should be older or younger than my current child. I want him to be happy and to accept his new sibling andmost of all I want himto feel like he is still loved. Any suggestions?

I'd recommend a younger child. It will make your 7 year old feel more responsible and important if he has a younger sibling to take care of.

Yes most people recommend not breaking the "birth order" and the little one will still feel loved just make sure he is feels very included in your adoption.

where are you adopting from?

I plan on going through the state of Georgia. I went through an agency for my first but do not have the funds to do that again.

what sort of special need are you open to?

Nothing too much. My so now has a mild form of Aspergers and that has been a major challenge for him in school. Being a single parent that works full time I am limited in what I can handle. If I was not in the position I am in I would definately be open to a child with Downs Syndrome. My son is bi-racial and I am open to that also.

Awe I compeletly understand the downsyndrome those littles ones have stolen my heart. It will be a little more difficult introducing a new little one with a austism spectrum little one but certainly do able. You should explore some of hte photo listing sites - you really can adopt from anywhere in the country it isn't that much harder to adopt from a different state (except in some states you have to travel for a quick meeting with your little one before they move) - do you have a homestudy?

Breaking birth order depends a lot on the child and the family dynamics. Some social workers have no problem with it, some do. Ours never did and we have broken birth order between the oldest and youngest but never have we adopted older than our oldest or younger than our youngest. Neither would take to well to the idea. Are you in a position to ask your son for his preference?