Most of our adoptive mother bloggers speak in glowing terms about their husbands as fathers. Personally, I have always been a huge sucker for men who love children. Loving children that are related to you biologically is pretty much expected, although that does not always seem to happen unfortunately. Sometimes we hear about men in our society who cannot or will not support or care for their biological children. Other men want to raise their children, but are denied that privilege.

Adoptive fathers sign on to take on the parental role for children unrelated to them by birth. Stepfathers also take on a similar role. What does it take for a man to actively parent a large family through biology only, through biology and adoption, or strictly through adoption? A big heart and a generous spirit?

I believe that it takes men who are good and decent people who happen to enjoy children. Why else would a man become an adoptive dad? There could be a few who are trying to please their wives, but I doubt that too many men who become adoptive dads do so for any reason other than their love of children.

Single men adopt now as well, and that is a whole other venture. I wonder, do some men adopt because they choose not to marry, haven't found the "right" woman or who knows what other motivating factors might enter the picture? I have read that some children actually do better
with only one parent due to particular needs or issues that they might have.

Adoptive dads are not all saints, any more than any other category of people. However, I imagine that most are decent and loving men. In my view, good fathers are treasures no matter how they came to parent the children in their lives. Some fathers step up to the plate whenever parenthood happens to them. Adoptive fathers raise their hands and proclaim that they are ready, willing and able to parent. Special men? I think so.



Further Reading:

Adoptive Fathers


What About Adoptive Dads?

Grant's Blog

Today is a Huge Day

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Love Thursday (Big Daddy)

Photo by Jan Baker 2007