<p>This story brought tears to my eyes:</p>
<p>[Video</a> - Latest clips and popular videos](<a href=“http://www.nbcnews.com/id/8004316/ns/video/#52051170]Video”>http://www.nbcnews.com/id/8004316/ns/video/#52051170)</p>
<p>I saw the story also.
Il like that idea and I would Consider adopting an older Teen. I’ve always wanted a son but would love another girl also.</p>
<p>It makes a lot of sense. As someone in the video said, there are sometimes large gaps these days between ages of parents and children. It’s awful that 18-year-olds are left to fend for themselves.</p>
<p>It can be a wonderful thing but proceed with caution. I really feel for teens in the system but they often come with a history that can make it extremely difficult to experience the intimacy of family life.</p>
<p>I say that as the extremely lucky mom of a 17-year-old who became my kid when she was 23 months old. She has done fabulously well and it is far and away the very best thing I have ever done–my life work–but I have many friends who have had heartbreaking difficulties with teens, even if they were adopted very early in life. It’s a a very tough time of life for an adoptee and every “normal” teen trouble can increase exponentially.</p>
<p>I had a migraine headache this week and my kid is still struggling–she asks me several times a day if I am all right. I am sure she was much more scared than she would have been if I gave birth to her. She is my heart, but I worry plenty about losing my health when she is far too young to have to deal with this stuff. I am doing it for my dad and stepmother but they are 90 and 93, and I am almost 65. My daughter’s turn, should she accept it, will come much earlier in life.</p>
<p>Do a ton of research and don’t assume your agency (whether government or private) is your friend–they have a job to do which is placing kids who are very difficult to place, and they tolerate failed adoptions with much fewer consequences than the adoptive parents. I can probably find websites with good guidance if anyone is interested.</p>
<p>I would love to adopt a girl. I am dying to buy some girly stuff. The boys depts are always 1/10th the size of the girls depts.</p>
<p>lol…I don’t want to make it sound like I would just adopt to shop for a girl. I adore kids.</p>
<p>One way to ease into it is trying to be a foster or respite family – that way you can better see how it may or may NOT fit for you. </p>
<p>It has never made sense to me that magically a young person knows how to be totally independent upon turning 18! Makes NO sense and I applaud those who take kids into their homes and lives. It is a challenge–one relative is having a tough time with one of the two children that he adopted as youngsters now that the youngster is 24. Other friends have had challenges with their adoptees, especially encouraging them to pursue higher education where both adoptive parents are professionals and college grads.</p>
<p>HImom has it right.
Of course, childhood should be a nice progression toward independence but that hard cutoff at magic 18 yrs old is still a challenge for most families.</p>
<p>We have a special needs D who is still on the independence curve at age 24. We don’t know how far she will ultimately come.
Her ‘typical’ brother (is there such a thing?) is turning 27 in a week. He’s employed, living independently and launched. But facing a probable surgery, he’s circling back home for help with healthcare maze and rehab plans.</p>
<p>I also applaud adoptive families and wish them well!</p>
<p>Our D is 23 and still has unresolved chronic health problems we are all working on so she can have more stamina and hopefully a career, now that she’s just gotten her bachelor’s degree. </p>
<p>Her brother is 25 and seems to have come to terms with his chronic health conditions. I know of very few able to be totally (especially financially) independent at age 18.</p>
<h1>5 mom2collegekids</h1>
<p>I have 4 daughters (and 3 sons). I would be happy to have you “adopt” one of my daughters and shop for her! (I hate shopping.) Which one? You can have “the bad one.” 
She’s 11.</p>
<p>I’ve thought about adopting many times, but I’m not exactly a model mom to my own kids and not sure I could handle more. I have sponsored several girls overseas for their educations.</p>
<p>You’d be surprised what an 18yo can do if he/she has to. I had a tenant who came from a very poor, rural family with 10 kids. The kids just drift away when they are 17-18. This girl was able to find jobs, finish an 18mo certificate program at our community college, buy a car,
pay her rent and food, and even pay for her own braces which her parents could never afford.
Now she has enrolled in a 4year college. (I guess we sort of “sponsored” her by giving her cheap rent and occasional help/advice.) I really admired her independence/responsibility/maturity. At age 18-19 she had figured out a lot more about the practical side of life than my own kids, who were a lot more sheltered.</p>
<p>Not for me. I am done!</p>
<p>i am enjoying the time we have since the kids graduated before they start their families (if they decide to), and spending time with our folks while we all still enjoy it. It is a pleasant time and while I LOVED raising my kids am not really missing it. Can be auntie and not have to raise them or pay for their educataions anyway. I have 15 nieces and nephews, so expect to be a great aunt as well to more than the one great nephew so far.</p>
<p>I would love to be a foster parent but there are 2 problems, 1. My wife is not as eager to do this as I am, and it would mean a lot of work for her, maybe even more than for me… and 2. I volunteer as a GAL, and I cannot be a foster parent and a GAL at the same time.</p>
<p>I dream of fostering teen mothers and their babies when my son leaves for college. I love parenting and teaching people how to work/be/play with children, so this seems natural. I don’t know if I’ll have the stamina and courage to do it 4 years from now, but it’s been a dream for a long time.</p>
<p>NJres - is that a NC rule? I am a CASA in IL. We can be both a CASA and foster parent (but not the CASA/GAL for our own foster child). </p>
<p>For those concerned about 18 year olds losing service - for many, many kids in foster care, services do not automatically cut off at age 18. </p>
<p>For those interested in helping out foster children but not by being a foster parent, here is a volunteer opportunity. Type A CC parents are a great fit!</p>
<p>[National</a> CASA - Court Appointed Special Advocate Association - CASA for Children: Advocating for Abused and Neglected Children](<a href=“http://www.casaforchildren.org/site/c.mtJSJ7MPIsE/b.5301295/k.BE9A/Home.htm]National”>Home - National CASA/GAL Association for Children)</p>
<p>Adoptive mom here! The list of waiting children, especially older ones is long. As are the ones with sibling groups. If you’re not careful you’ll end up with a five like me!</p>
<p>The process is a different one but very rewarding. In both directions!! There are pitfalls along the way but being prepared can make a difference.</p>
<p>Kat</p>
<p>And to mom2collegekids…DO IT! Your boys are on their way…</p>
<p>As others have suggested, proceed with caution.
I have a friend who had tried two, one boy and one girl, both are failed cases. The older the kids, the more difficult to adapt your life style. You need to look into the background in each case and decide for yourself.</p>
<p>2012Mom, it is definitely a rule here, and maybe just in the state of NC. I was told we cannot do both.</p>