Pound Pup Legacy

Some of my first and most beloved jobs were in retail, where the subject of loss prevention was of critical importance.  However, thwarting shoplifters and sneaky employees pales in comparison to preventing real, lifelong losses like those in adoption.  I  never had to stop a mass conspiracy theft in the small stores where I worked, but that's exactly how I would categorize loss prevention in adoption.  When you're fighting to preserve a family, you're not fighting a small town, shoplifting teen.  You're fighting a massive, devious, and secretive criminal conglomerate.  Loss prevention, in adoption, requires some serious weaponry. 

Fortunately, those weapons are fairly easy to come by once you've become aware of the adoption industry's most frequently used tactics for coercing and cajoling a surrender out of unsuspecting young parents.  In the past ten years, I've found that most expectant parents don't need much in order to protect themselves and their children from adoption.  Deep down, by the time they knock on my figurative door, they know that adoption isn't what they want.  From there, it's almost always just a matter of empowering them with information about the billion dollar business that wants to confiscate their babies. 

Of course, it can't always be that easy.  Many mothers (and fathers) fear that they won't be able to provide for their children.  Middle class America teaches us that babies and children are terribly expensive -- especially if you want to bring them up the "right" way.  One of the first things I tell expectant parents is that children, and babies especially, are simply not that expensive.  Babies 'R Us may give you a long list of things you "must have" for your new baby, but most of those items are unnecessary or can be aquired cheaply through other sources.  One of the most expensive purchases, a crib, can be done away with altogether if you decide to co-sleep with your baby.  Not only that, but you'll likely both sleep better at night if you're doing it in close proximity to one another!  Breastfeeding and cloth diapering are two additional ways to save money, with the added bonus of better health and environment protection.  And of course, welfare programs exist for a reason.  Mothers and fathers who are eligible for government assistance should never, ever feel guilty about accepting it! 

Other expectant parents worry that being young or single will prevent them from giving their children the best possible upbringing.  As we learn all too quickly, youth is fleeting and today's committed partners are tomorrow's divorcees.  I would never advocate that a mother or father make permanent decisions about his or her baby's future based on such transient variables.  Empowered young parents (see Girl-Mom.com for some great examples) and devoted single parents absolutely can go above and beyond simply meeting their children's needs.  Most expectant parents are able to make peace with their ages and/or relationships, as long as they have the encouragement to do so.   

On a small scale, working with individuals to prevent adoption loss is a relatively easy task (though one that needs to be taken up by more people)!  It's preventing adoption loss on a larger scale that requires more time, effort, and dedication -- and I'm saving that post for later this evening!