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adopt
transitive verb
1 : to take by choice into a relationship; especially : to take voluntarily (a child of other parents) as one’s own child
2 : to take up and practice or use [adopted a moderate tone]
3 : to accept formally and put into effect [adopt a constitutional amendment]
4 : to choose (a textbook) for required study in a course
intransitive verb1 : to adopt a child [couples choosing to adopt]
2 : to sponsor the care and maintenance of [adopt a highway]
~ Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
Who knew that the word adopt had so many meanings. I didn’t, and I make a living on words.
Why am I quoting the dictionary? Two reasons.
First, November is National Adoption Awareness Month. Courtney wrote an informative post on the Adoptive Parenting blog, and I highly recommend reading it. You can do it now if you’d like. I’ll wait.
Second, it came to my attention early on in the process that some members of the adoption community have a problem with the word adopt meaning anything other than adopt a child. In this month’s issue of Adoptive Families, the editors gave a thumbs down to a zoo that uses the phrase “Adopt an Animal”. The more correct term in this instance is sponsor an animal, because you’re paying for a particular animal’s upkeep.
I don’t have a problem with adopt as a synonym for sponsor. The Mama Bear in me is annoyed by the Adopt-a-Highway signs that appear all over California’s roads. However, I’m the first to admit that’s at least somewhat irrational. Yes, the term sponsor is more correct. However, does the use of the term adopt in this instance really denigrate adoption?
When I see people protest Adopt a Shelter Pet month, I just have to tilt my head and think, “This is worth getting upset over?”. Yes, pets are animals. So are humans. I happen to think of my cats as teenage children. They hide in their rooms, come and go as they please, and only seem to take an interest in me when I feed them. They’re definitely family. I think adopt is an apt term, and that was before I knew that adopt has at least six meanings.
As in many aspects of life, a person has to pick her battles. Use of the word adopt in other contexts is not a battle I choose to fight. I thought it fitting to discuss the word adopt itself as National Adoption Awareness month begins.
