Adoption or Just Help?

For many, many years, the plight of unwanted and unloved kids has tugged at my heart. Even more so when I became a mom. There are so many stories out there of children who are neglected, abused, dumped. Sometimes I have to just close my ears and eyes, simply for my heart to keep from cracking open.

Thinking of all those kids has had me considering whether I would be able to adopt or not. It's a major step to take - but if it makes a difference in just one kid's life, surely it would be more than worth it?

Yes, I know there are things like the World Vision programme and other sponsorship organizations, but somehow it doesn't seem quite enough.

And yet there's another side to the coin, namely my single parent status - and associated issues....

I don't think I'd be able to handle adopting, or that I'd be allowed to. A while back I read of a well-off executive lady, who was single and wanted to use her resources to adopt and mother an unwanted child. She was willing to take any child, no matter whether it had health problems, psychological issues, or anything else. She was flat-out told "there are no children available" - when she knew for a fact that there were many, many children needing homes! The powers that be were simply not willing to consider that she could be a wonderful mom without having a "normal" family set-up in place.

I know there's no way I'd be able to cope financially right now, or time-wise. Bringing another child into my little family of two would require more effort and time than I have available at the moment, having to work away from home all day to keep us alive.

But still these thoughts are circulating in my head. How can I make a difference? How can I give even one child love and attention that they may not be getting anywhere else? Do I have that to give, or is it just pipe dreams? Should I just stick to giving my son everything I've got instead of spreading it around thinly?