My Wish for 2011: More Adoptions

As I sit here listening to the bell of 2010 ringing out, my thoughts naturally turn to the new year and what it may bring. Like I'm sure everyone does, I can't help coming up with wishes for what lies ahead. And, as a father, they are naturally tied to my children.

My oldest child, my only son, is now in high school. He doesn't live the same life most of the rest of us do. He was born with Down syndrome, so his view of things is simpler, more in the now. What I hope for is that the world continues to grow in its acceptance of those with disabilities.

We've already been making great strides in this. The special-needs kids back when I was young were kept separate and out of the way.

My son is front and center at his school, and because of that he has a lot of friends who aren't special needs. They accept him for who he is. I want this to not only continue, but to grow. Not just for him, but for all of us. Because the smiles I see on the faces of his regular student friends tell me that they're getting more out of the relationship with him than even he is. And I know he gets a lot.

Another wish is inspired not only by my oldest daughter, but also my brother, my sister and several of my cousins, all of whom have joined our family through adoption.

To me, whether you're born directly into a family or find some other way there, such as adoption, it doesn't matter. You are family, no less and no more than anyone else. My brother and sister (twins, because my parents didn't want to separate them when it turned out the birth mother had two instead of one) came into our house when I was 4 and they were only 6 days old. Were they less my brother and sister because they were adopted? Absolutely not. I can guarantee you, they were just as annoying growing up as if we'd shared the same DNA.

When it came time to build my own family, adoption was a given. My beautiful daughter, who I lifted out of her crib in an orphanage in Vietnam on her first birthday, is a blessing every day. Can't imagine life without her as part of the family.

There are so many children out there who need good families, and so many families who would love to have more kids.

My wish here is simple, that more families consider adoption not as a last option, but as part of their plan from the beginning. If that's you, try it. It will enrich your life beyond anything you will expect.

I would be remiss if I didn't include a wish associated with my youngest daughter, too. An artist and a budding comedian, in her honor I wish that the upcoming year (and every year after) is lighter and full of more smiles than the year before it.

Those are some of my wishes for 2011, inspired by some pretty cool kids who make every year great for me. And if those dreams come true, I have to think the coming years will be great for a lot of other people, too. Maybe even you.

Brett Battles is the award-winning author of the thriller series featuring Jonathan Quinn, aka The Cleaner, published by Bantam Dell. His latest novel, "The Silenced," will be in bookstores March 22. Read his blog on Red Room.


My Wish for 2011 -- An AOL News Year-End Special
We asked a dozen top writers to share their wishes for the New Year. Click on any headline to read what they hope will happen in 2011.

• Better TV News – By Barry W. Lynn
• A Better World for My Daughter – By G. Willow Wilson
• More Companies That Don't Suck – By Dave Logan
• More Progress for Women – By Talia Carner
• A Just Transition to Clean Energy – By Jeff Biggers
• Closing the Happiness Gap – By Catherine Ryan Hyde
• Honor for the Kalahari Bushmen – By James G. Workman
• The Courage to Ask Questions – By Sonya Huber
• More Adoptions – By Brett Battles
• A Smile, Freely Given – By J.T. Ellison
• We Stop Kicking the Can Down the Road – By Rebecca York
• A Better Next Decade – Kate Clinton