In honor of National Adoption Day, we're sharing five things to know before adopting a child.

1. Are you ready?

When considering adoption, it's vital to be in agreement with your partner about your readiness to adopt. If there is any hesitation or worry that is present, it's important to work these discrepancies out before you move forward. You should also think about how the process will impact your family as well as the adoptive child.

2. Have you done your research?

The adoption process can be complicated, and it's important to do your research and know the terminology that you'll be dealing with. While you can do a lot of this research online, it's important to also check in with a local adoption resource to ensure that you have learned what is accurate and legal in your state. Affiliating with an adoption agency and/or adoption attorney can also be helpful.

3. What unique needs can you meet?

Every adoption journey is different, and so it's a good idea to think about what your family dynamic could contribute to a child. Think about an age range of a child that would fit best in your family. Think about whether or not fostering to adopt is something that you'd like to pursue. Only you can know what will work best for your family.

4. Are you prepared for the long haul?

More often than not, the adoption process is lengthy, complicated and dependent on many external factors. So you're going to need to have a lot of patience, as well as a lot of support emotionally and psychologically. While you can't prepare for everything, and the end result is so worth it, it's a good idea to plan for it to be a little complicated.

5. Are you prepared to have an open dialogue with your child?

While there is no way to gauge how a child will react to the circumstance of their adoption, it is important to maintain an open dialogue when the time comes. Because your child may have many questions and intense feelings about her adoption. So prepare for the openness that comes with this process.

What are some ways that adoption has touched your life?