Is my reason for wanting to adopt wrong?

Ethics

Hi everyone! I'm a person who's still in their early 20s and am no where near the age or place in life where I'm ready for a child, but for years I've thought when the time comes for me to have kids I want to adopt.

Now the reason I want to adopt is because of my view on life. I believe that life is full of suffering, conflict, struggle, and pain. I personally still live my life in a relatively happy manner, and have been blessed with so much privilege and love, but regardless I still suffer trying to navigate through my life (and I think that everyone does). Because of this, I don't want to bring another human into the world just to experience that same conflict. Why do that when there are already children out there who are already born and in need of a home?

I come from a conservative Muslim family where the ideals of a traditional family is of upmost importance and I've communicated that view to them. They strongly disagree stating that the child will never "truly be mine" and that I have a duty to have my own kids. They state that I'm too pessimistic and that there's no reason to not have children of my own and if I adopt the child will not be "loyal to me". The decision to have children is still far down my path in life, but I've been firm in my decision to adopt and not have children of my own for years. However, after the way my family has regarded my decision, I've started to think that the reason behind my decision is not a good enough one. For people who are able to have their own kids but have adopted, why did you make that decision? Is my reason for wanting to adopt wrong?

Posted Nov 2, 2023, 1:32 AM UTC

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