Continued from the previous post

2. Finances
Are you working? Do you have any money saved? Can you afford to raise this child? There is WIC and many other programs for single mothers, etc. Look at them and the requirements. What do you have to do in order to qualify?

3. Will anyone be helping you raise this child?
Is the child’s father involved? Do you have anyone willing to support you mentally, emotionally, physically, and/or financially? Do you have a good network of family and friends that are willing to help you? Is the child's father involved? '

4. How much time will you have to devote to this child?
Do you go to college? To school? To work? Who will take of the child in the meantime, and if you have to pay them how are you going to afford it?

5. Where will my child grow up?
What kind of housing do you live in? Is it stable housing? If you live with others, will they be ok with bringing a child into the home? What type of enviroment will my child be raised in?

6. Preventives
Is their anything in your life that would prevent you from being a good parent? Do you have any health problems or mental issues that could affect your ability to be a good parent?


7. Other children (if you have them)
Will parenting this child deprive your other children of necessities?

A few other things:
I want to remind you of something that I’ve heard (or read) Jan say many times: "An adoptive couple is almost always going to look better on paper than a woman considering adoption." So, the point of these questions is not to make you feel inadequate, but it is to lay it all on the line and see what all you’d need to do in order to make a parenting plan.

Also, remember that financial situations can change. Your financial situation could be terrible today and that could change in the future.

We will explore some resources for single parenting in Part 3.

The Journey Part 1
Part 2 A Which Road to Take?