Aside from those few people who firmly decide as children that they will eventually build their family through adoption, most come to the first steps in the adoption journey by way of a meandering path that may take them through infertility, second families, concerns over over-population, or any of as many reasons as there are adoptive families.

Occasionally, a potential adoptive parent comes to the process feeling a deep connection for one part of the world, and is immediately attracted to the idea of adopting internationally as a way to link their family to a country that already feels special. Perhaps there's family background that comes across as a tie to one country, or some bit of history that resonates within, drawing a person toward a certain region or people. Religion may also come into play when looking toward other nations, either through a desire to raise a child born into a certain religion, or an effort to not impose a different set of beliefs on children of another.

Most people, however, when they begin contemplating adoption come to the table devoid of any idea of where their child might be coming from. The first tentative steps are often accompanied by a vague but persistent feeling that the child meant to be yours is waiting somewhere for you, and that it's now your duty to find that child.

(No little pressure, there, but you might as well get used to this at the beginning. Adoption ain't for sissies.)

Each approach is unique, and just as every family's experience will be completely different from every other's, the circumstances and thought processes along the way will vary greatly from person to person.

Once the seed has been planted, however, there are issues in common. One of the choices that is to be made early in the process is what sort of adoption would be right for each family: domestic private infant adoption, adoption domestically from foster care, or adoption of a child from another country.

Considerations may include:
• desired age of child
• willingness and/or ability to travel
• race and ethnicity
• costs of the adoption
• the process
• perceptions

For a closer look at these considerations, see the next post.