What Constitutes Successful Parents?
Ok, so the title of this post might be slightly misleading after you start to read it... but I've been seeing things on the news and hearing people talk about this lately. So, I'm adding my two cents.
I believe homosexual couples who are loving, respectful, positive role models should be allowed to adopt children without all the red tape and need to defend themselves. Take religion out of the discussion for just one minute! Regardless of your beliefs about homosexuality and its place in American society, please think about something...
Millions of children are born each year to parents who - for whatever reason - do not want to raise them. These children have not asked to be born, yet alone be abandoned into the arms of others. Similarly, millions of men and women want to have a family but cannot - for whatever reason. Ah hah! There is a way to solve this dilemma. It's called adoption.
Who is to say that a gay couple could not raise a healthy, loving, focused, determined, successful child into adulthood? I see heterosexual couples every single day who I question as parents. They live their lives in ways that are truly unrepresentative of what we should be teaching our children and instilling in them. Being heterosexual clearly does NOT make them better parents!
With such a strong need to find loving and supportive homes for these children, why would anyone question the parents' sexual preference as a determining factor in their actual ability to parent? That's like me interviewing someone for the position of cashier at a grocery store and deciding whether to offer them the job based upon their answer to this question: "Can you do a one-handed cartwheel?"
Respect; trust; love; support; patience; understanding.... these are qualities I would seek in a parent. These are characteristics that help to shape the young heart and mind of a child. People need to get off the bandwagon (religion-based or not) and think about what is in the best interest of our youth... a loving home, where the parents want nothing but happiness and success for their children.
Religion, I am starting to discover more and more, tends to shape people's perceptions without always clearly allowing them to think openly about each situation at-hand. Personal beliefs are important, no doubt, but when it comes to successful parenting, there are MANY more qualities to worry about than one's sexual preference.
Thanks for reading this. I feel strongly about what I've said and wish only that more people would express the same opinion. We need to find homes for so many children in this world, and good people (regardless of their sexuality) are who we must count on to help.
I believe homosexual couples who are loving, respectful, positive role models should be allowed to adopt children without all the red tape and need to defend themselves. Take religion out of the discussion for just one minute! Regardless of your beliefs about homosexuality and its place in American society, please think about something...
Millions of children are born each year to parents who - for whatever reason - do not want to raise them. These children have not asked to be born, yet alone be abandoned into the arms of others. Similarly, millions of men and women want to have a family but cannot - for whatever reason. Ah hah! There is a way to solve this dilemma. It's called adoption.
Who is to say that a gay couple could not raise a healthy, loving, focused, determined, successful child into adulthood? I see heterosexual couples every single day who I question as parents. They live their lives in ways that are truly unrepresentative of what we should be teaching our children and instilling in them. Being heterosexual clearly does NOT make them better parents!
With such a strong need to find loving and supportive homes for these children, why would anyone question the parents' sexual preference as a determining factor in their actual ability to parent? That's like me interviewing someone for the position of cashier at a grocery store and deciding whether to offer them the job based upon their answer to this question: "Can you do a one-handed cartwheel?"
Respect; trust; love; support; patience; understanding.... these are qualities I would seek in a parent. These are characteristics that help to shape the young heart and mind of a child. People need to get off the bandwagon (religion-based or not) and think about what is in the best interest of our youth... a loving home, where the parents want nothing but happiness and success for their children.
Religion, I am starting to discover more and more, tends to shape people's perceptions without always clearly allowing them to think openly about each situation at-hand. Personal beliefs are important, no doubt, but when it comes to successful parenting, there are MANY more qualities to worry about than one's sexual preference.
Thanks for reading this. I feel strongly about what I've said and wish only that more people would express the same opinion. We need to find homes for so many children in this world, and good people (regardless of their sexuality) are who we must count on to help.
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