A few years back, after my son graduated from high school and began his life as a parkour stud and professional stuntman, I very diligently considered adopting a kid. Not just a kid. A kid who aged out of desirability already. A kid whose chances at a forever home were slim at best. A teenager.

I already raised my son effectively as a single parent. And I felt I could give another kid the same loving, supportive, and safe home.

At the time, I was friends with a social worker who specialized in foster care. I mentioned my idea of adopting a kid. And she asked:

“What qualifies you to adopt a child?”

As a starting point of the comversation, I replied, “Love.”

And immediately she said, “That isn’t enough.”

Her reply was so quick. So I asked her, “Are you a parent?”

She said, “No, but that doesn’t matter.”

I chose to end the conversation there.

Why? Because people who are not parents instructing parents on how to raise their children is like a frog teaching an eagle to fly.