Hello, I'm a Polish woman who is interested in such issues like adoption in USA, teenage pregnancy, single motherhood, etc. The issue I am interested in most is: When family separation is better than family preservation?
If I asked a Pole, I assume (!) he/she would probably say that unless a parent (parents) is COMPLETELY unfit, the child should stay with him/her. A biological family should be kept together, provided there is no abuse or neglect. I think most Poles value blood ties more than money, opportunities or family structure and therefore would say that placing a child for adoption should be considered only as a last resort.
Americans, however, have a little bit different attitude towards adoption. It is much more common here and placing an infant for adoption is often perceived as "a selfless, loving choice" which allows the infant to have "a better life", especially when a mother is very young, single and/or poor. Just as if age, poverty or marital status were good reasons to relinquish a baby.
So here are my questions for you:
1. Can teenagers be good parents? Even very young teenagers? (I'm not talking about financial stability.)
2. Under what circumstances would adoption be better than keeping a baby?