Today, the 9th of November 2017, is World Adoption Day! To some, this might just be another day closer to the weekend, but to our family, this day is very special and is acknowledged with much gratitude and a reminder of how blessed we are. Almost 3 years ago a little boy came into our lives through adoption, he had been prayed for, longed for – wanted in every way! This little boy is our son.

As a gesture to create awareness around adoption, on the 9th of November every year, people all around the world (usually those who have been touched by adoption in one way or another) draw a smiley face on their hands. This symbolization of the day might seem quite simple, but the meaning, in fact, is very deep. To me, the little smiley face is a representation of the innocent smile of a child, a child that longingly waits to fall into the loving arms of a family. It represents the emotional smiles that appear on adoptive parents’ faces when they receive the call to say when they have matched with a child. It symbolizes the beaming faces of moms and dads holding their child for the very first time.

What Is World Adoption Day All About?

 

The first World Adoption Day was launched in 2014, so in essence, it is still in its infant stages. The idea was conceptualized by a man called Hank Fortener. Hank comes from Ohio and has 8 adopted children of his own, he has also fostered over 36 children to date. It is easy to see that he is a huge advocate of adoption and has a great love for the well-being of children around the world.

While Hank’s intention for Adoption Day was to create awareness of the challenges of adoption and to encourage adults to consider building their families in this manner, it has also become a day to celebrate families as a whole. Because families do come in different shapes and sizes after all! 

“All children are a blessing”

We are one VERY happy family!

World Adoption Day is celebrated by related organisations around the globe and many use this day to not only create awareness of adoption, but they also throw fundraising events to help raise funds for non-profit organisations that are involved in the adoption process, for example: orphanages, safety homes, rehabilitation centres and so on. At the same time, families who are wanting to adopt also sometimes take advantage of this day by running a fundraiser of their own, to help them collect the fees they might need to help them adopt a child.

3 things that you can do to help create Adoption Awareness (get your kids and students involved):

 

1. Draw a smiley face on your hand and post it on social media using the following hashtag: #WorldAdoptionDay
2. Volunteer at your nearest Baby Home or orphanage.
3. Plan a fundraising event and make a donation towards one of your local child-related charities

Celebrating or very first World Adoption Day

While I like to use this day to reminisce about how I became a mother and how much I love the sweet boy who made his way into the world a little differently, I always feel a bit sad, despite the smiley face lingering on my hand. You see, adoption comes with challenges, especially for the adoptees. Their story comes with loss and much heartache, despite the fact that they are utterly and completely loved. When I became a mother, someone else lost their child – my heart aches for them, no matter their circumstances and reasoning, losing a child will always be like losing a limb. On this note, I will leave you with this quote:

Through struggles comes strength, and in the realm of adoption, through struggles comes the strength of unconditional love, sacrifice, and forever families. - https://adoption.com/world-adoption-day-changing-the-world-one-child-at-a-time

Team South Africa banner designed by @bearone

Happy World Adoption Day! 

Much love - @sweetpea

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