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Thursday, June 21, 2007

Ethiopia Rumored To Eliminate Single Women From Adopting

Well you know how it goes. A rumor usually has a little truth to it. There has been some talk that Ethiopia has plans to eliminate single women from adopting! It's possible, China and Ukraine did just the same thing this year. Yes, that sounds crazy to me also. In a country where there are millions of children orphaned and there are countless single women that have the emotional and financial means and want to nurture, support and love children there seems to be something illogical about this.

Let me take a shot at this from my little itty bitty step stool (if you will)…maybe in a third world country and in a country where a large number of the population are Muslim, they want nothing less than the best for their children and by that they believe the best to be a two-parent household. Quite possibly they believe that single women have not married because we were “not chosen”, “had bad values” or “did not value marriage or family”. However, as part of the growing group of single women choosing to adopt we know that is not true. I’m not going to use this blog to go into why we are not married but to say that we believe in the sanctity of marriage. And to convict us just because God has yet delivered our partner to us is unfair. We want the best for our kids also and would go to the same lengths to make sure they receive it. I’m going to the same lengths to get my daughter from Ethiopia (as a two-parent family) and even more so because I am doing it alone. Now if the government eliminates singles from adopting that would mean fewer children would have the option of living in happy, healthy and functional (ok sometimes ...LOL) homes! The world has yet to find a cure for poverty, HIV and other diseases but they continue to make it difficult for the few who can make a difference. It still sounds illogical to me.

So what does this all mean for me?

I’m filling out my paperwork NOW! They aren’t locking me out, I'm going to get my baby girl! I’m not that crazy. I talk a good game but it’s their county and I’ll play by their rules! They win! So…if you are single and want to adopt from Ethiopia my advice to you…Call Gladney, Wide Horizons or another agency but you better hurry up and call somebody!

7 comments:

Single PAP said...

it's completely illogical as was the ethiopian government turning a blind eye to the AIDS epidemic as it was unfolding before it's eyes back in the 80's. i understand having pride but not when it's to the detriment of your citizens. it's an incredibly depressing situation all the way around. in any event, it is what is it so i better get on it, cause i want my baby girl, too!!

Cortney Gee and The Celebrity Cane Corsos said...

i hope that you do get the baby sweetie... but if not you can alwas adopt my kids ..smile

VALARIE said...

Uhmm...get moving! I haven't traveled this long with you to see you out of the game. I will tell you like I tell myself, "what God has for me is for me." It won't matter though unless you get that paperwork filed. Get going!

waiting also said...

Tami, please do not shut down. Your blog is so informative. I feel your pain because I am a sbf in the same situation as you and so many other women. It's unfair and heartbreaking. What will happen to all of those precious babies and children? I'm praying for a miracle. However the state of world affairs certainly impacts on the intl. adoption world. In our cases two years or more seems like an eternity. Last week I cried and cried! I feel your hurt.

Anonymous said...

I am also a single woman, but do not have any children and know what your going through. I hope the process of your adoption will go smoothly and that your daughter will be home sooner than anticipated. Ethiopia is probably closing the door because of popular demand, and that so many adoption agencies are opening a new (Ethiopian) program.

Anonymous said...

My agency called and let me know this earlier in the week. They told me MOWA wouldn't accept me even though my dossier has been in Ethiopia for 18 months now. There is a meeting next week where they will further discuss this and hopefully the agencies will convince them to grandfather those already in process thru. I have never cried so much in my life and am praying that they will change their minds. It does seem as if the world sees singles not as valid adults but that there is something wrong with us because"someone wouldn't marry us" or some such looney thought. Keep hope - maybe the more of us hoping and praying will somehow effect their hearts and let us thru to our children.

Anonymous said...

I am a single woman in the very early stages of the process and it has indeed been disheartening. Your blog is a source of comfort and solace.