Could you/do you raise someone else's kids?
By la_chique
@la_chique (1498)
January 18, 2011 8:35am CST
There are many reasons why people may look after and raise someone else's kids. Grandparents, relatives, or stepparents may need to look after relative's children.
There are also many children in the foster care and adoption system. Could you/do you do this? How do you feel about it?
There are also other situations like egg donors/sperm donors and also surrogacy. How would you feel if you had a child that wasnt biologically yours, or had been given birth to by someone else?
Would you ever feel completely like that child's parent?
If you already do, do you consider yourself to be the child's parent, or just a guardian?
I plan to adopt, and I'd like to think that over time, I could gain the respect to be regarded as a mother, and to feel like one.
2 responses
@SViswan (12051)
• India
19 Jan 11
I do not raise anyone's kids. But I have a neighbour who is a friend and both of us consider the other's kids their own. It's like we have 4 kids each. She doesn't hesitate in calling me up when she is in a fix and asking me to look after the kids. I've also helped in looking after my little cousins before I was married and when we lived in different houses in the same compound.
We have two boys of our own and are thinking of adopting a little girl few years down. I would treat the child just the same as my biological kids. The neighbour I mentioned, one of her daughters is adopted. We've already forgotten about it and treat her just as we do with the older daughter. It all depends on the person, I feel.
@la_chique (1498)
•
19 Jan 11
Thanks for sharing this. Its nice that you and your neighbour have such a good relationship that you can take care of each other's kids if you need it. Good luck with the adoption if you go ahead with it.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
28 Jan 11
I don't think that all people are properly equipped to raise someone else's children. However, I think that I am the kind of person that would be able to raise a child that I had not carried myself. In fact, it is because of the fact that I feel so strongly that I could raise another person's child that I would like to eventually adopt a child when I'm a little bit older and when my children are a little bit older as well. I love children and I have a lot of love to give so despite the fact that I will never have another child of my own, I would like to be a mother again.
