Adopt a ... etc

[hippyhappyhoppyhuppy]

Does anyone else get upset by the use of the word adoption in other contexts eg adopt an elephant/monkey/donkey, people talking about the cat/dog they’ve adopted Or worst of all that hideous school fair stall where everyone brings in an old teddy they don’t want and they get put in a tombola to be adopted by someone?

DD is 4 and asked me if I paid £5 for her. After some gentle questioning, she’d seen an advert where you could ‘adopt’ a donkey for £5 a month. I wish they’d just stop.

I do too! You're not alone.

I also know of school pets who are fostered at weekends in children's homes, which has also caused upset.

I do too. Sponsor is much more appropriate and accurate. My dad just 'adopted' a couple of donkeys for DS and I was so relieved when the pack arrived and it said sponsor instead.

I had never considered this. But now at least I will be ready with an answer if it ever comes up. Its nice to be ahead of the curve sometimes.

Thanks

Yes I hate it too, and vocalise loudly about it to any one who'll listen when ever it crops up. And yes sponsor is the word that should be used.

I hate it! And have written to zoos etc before about it!!

I much prefer 'sponsor', but we just laugh about how we could keep a sealion in the bathroom or whatever.

Yes, I usually point out that no, they haven’t adopted a cat, dog or whatever, but they have purchased said animal from a business.

One of the primary schools I toured had a scheme where children could foster the school teddy at weekends. They thought this was a selling point, they knew they were talking to an adoptive parent so they knew they were talking about a previously fostered child. There were a few things I didn’t like about the school, but the foster teddy was the one I pointed out and explained why I thought it wasn’t appropriate.

I am an adoptee and would not get upset about this at all. I have a sibling who was fostered and in a children's home who would not get upset either. We would happily use "adopt" in the context of animals without even thinking of our childhoods. There are many words which can mean different things in different contexts. I hope that you find this slightly reassuring.

@Blazerwearing Thanks for sharing your experience. And yes I'd say that's slightly reassuring. My son is only five though and although I talk to him often about what it means to be adopted his understanding of what adoption is is somewhat woolly to say the least and these other uses muddy the water in terms of his understanding. I also worry that other children will associate adoption with donkeys and teddies first so if DS discloses he is adopted they will associate him with the donkeys.

I agree that words can be used in different contexts and I am fine with talking about roads being adopted or adopting a way of working because they are different enough and don't really enter the language of a five year old.