Has anyone else seen these commercials? Specifically, one called "They All Love Me".
You can view the commercial here.
The bones of it consists of a cute as a button little girl running through a greenhouse and being picked up by her adoptive father as the tag line says, "I couldn't give my baby things... Things my baby would really need... like a mom, AND a dad."
Now while I fully support adoption, and I understand how problematic and tragic it is for young unwed girls to become pregnant... and I agree with adoption being a good choice in certain situations, and how beneficial it could be... My problem with this commercial (and in essence this entire philosophy)...
Should the fact that there is no father present be a basis to give a child up for adoption?? First of all let me clarify for those who will jump to a conclusion... my own child has a father. I have never put a baby up for adoption. Marriage, help in the delivery room, sharing diaper duty, the whole nine yards. I'm not biased in this topic. Something about this commercial, however, just tugs at me every time I hear it.
Should an unwed mother be led to believe she can't raise a child on her own? That she couldn't possibly 'make it' and therefore the only humane option would be to give her baby up for adoption? That rational thinking is, "Either I get married or I choose adoption."? Are these women impressionable enough that this is even an issue? Am I making much ado about nothing?
I am now divorced and raising my almost 6 year old son by myself. He sees his daddy four times a week for visitation. Am I somehow, is my situation somehow, less than??
"When marriage is not possible," counseled President Spencer W. Kimball, "adoption through LDS Social Services is preferred so that the infant can be sealed to loving eager parents in an eternal family. A baby needs a family ~ a father and a mother. The Lord intends for babies to have a family and for families to be eternal." (Problem-Pregnancy, Prevention and Alternatives)
A baby is a blessing from God. And I believe nothing in God's world happens by mistake.
*climbing off my soapbox now, and waiting for opinions*
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4 comments:
Excellent post. I have a great deal of trouble with commercials like this and the overriding current tendencies to turn adoption into some sort of cure-all. As an adoptee who has interviewed about 100 people for a book I'm trying to write, adoption has a specific set of unique problems for all members of the triad. Even at its finest, the situation leaves a great deal to be desired and closed adoptions are most problematic.
Hope I never see that commercial.
Oh, btw, I'm a single parent, too. Eight years now. We're definitely not lesser. :)
I grew up with just mom. I don't know what life would have been like if I had a father around that cared, but I could NOT imagine life without my mother. I only hope that she understands how grateful I really am that she hung in there and didn't give up on being my parent. You are in no way less. In fact your more for realizing your own strength. Even if you can't give your kid as much time as you might like, I have no doubt that he will recognize your love and grow up as a strong and compasionate individual because of it.
Aw hell. I did that "your" instead of "you're" thing. I'm just a moron. Keep walking, pass on by. There's nothing to see here folks.
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