Categories: uncategorized
Date: 23 November 2007 10:27:44
posted originally on 2007/11/23
(A rare Mr Dots entry)
The biological method of acquiring a child is somewhat more pleasurable than doing so by adoption. I say arguably because it definitely is from the man's side, but I am conscious that childbirth can smart a bit.
So I thought I would make a list of the things that you don't have to do when getting a child biologically, that you do have to do when getting one bureaucratically by adoption. In reading the list, it may become apparent what hitch we've just hit this afternoon.
Maybe these procedures should be introduced though? It would certainly make sure people really wanted to be a parent. Maybe there should be social workers stationed outside people's bedrooms. 'Before you procreate, Mr and Mrs Smith, would you mind just doing the following?'
1. A year long assessment by social workers to determine whether you're fit to parent.
2. A judge and jury (occasionally called 'adoption panel') deciding whether you're fit to parent.
3. CRB/FBI checks. Look at the November 2006 archive.
4. Chasing people up by phone. All the time.
5. PEOPLE FORGETTING TO GET YOU TO SIGN AN IMPORTANT FORM WHICH MEANS THAT YOUR PANEL DATE IS GOING TO GET DELAYED GRRRRR (this sort of thing just happens all the time)
6. Agree to never again walk naked through the house (no really. It's not that I do this much, but we have to be 'dressed appropriately at all times').
7. Have a health and safety assessment done on your house
8. A preparation course and competency assessment
9. Work out how you're going to handle it when you discover your 14 year old son with a porn mag.
10. Signing a form after having the child with you for 6 months to say that they're really yours now.
And I could go on. And yes, you need most of the above in place, kind of. And we put ourselves through it with eyes mostly open. It's just... just... just...
That I want our family to be ours, on our terms. Not a social worker's. I think that's as natural as biology, and all of the above gets in the way.