I have a couple of questions, and thought it'd be nice to chat with people who have decided to adopt. It'll be at least 5-10 years before DH and I are ready to adopt a child--we want to enjoy being a young, two-person family for a while, and we also want to be financially secure before we add a child to the mix.

Still, there are a couple of things I've been thinking about/wondering about, and would LOVE to hear from other people who have either been down the road to adoption or are planning on adopting in the future.

1) What was/what do you think will be the most difficult part of adopting?

2) What was/what do you think will be the easiest?

3) Did you/do you have a preference on age, sex, etc. of the child?

4) Has anyone said anything rude/hurtful to you about your decision?

5) What's the best/sweetest thing anyone's said about your decision to adopt?

6) (Optional--if this is too personal, please don't feel like you have to answer it!) What made you decide to adopt?

7) Is there anything else you'd like to share with me? Advice, experiences, etc.?

Thanks in advance for sharing! I don't know anyone IRL who has adopted or wants to adopt, so it can get lonely sometimes.

A few people have said things like, "It'll be easier to have your own because as tough as parenting is, at least it'll be your kid you're raising instead of someone else's." Last I checked, when you adopt, the child becomes your child. Another gem is, "Well, you should at least try to have your own!" We've decided not to go through with fertility treatments and all that jazz because to us, the emotional and financial expense isn't worth it when we can just adopt. DH doesn't want to see me go through the procedures and then be crushed if it doesn't work out, and I don't want to put our relationship through any of that stress.

On the other hand, my aunt-mom has been super-supportive, and yesterday, my 87-year-old grandma gave me a hug and told me, "No matter how you and DH have your kids, I will love them just as much as I love you." I definitely teared up at that! So, the responses to our decision have been quite varied.