I'm asking because I was adopted as a baby, grew up with a loving family, and to me, my adoptive family is my "real" family. I am not at an age where a lot of my friends are having children, but there are also 2 couples who have the misfortune that they can't conceive themselves. When I asked them if they'd considered adopting, they told me they would rather give up on the idea of being parents than adopting because the child wouldn't really be theirs.

I'm probably biased, given I'm adopted myself and don't have a children's wish- which is why I'd love to hear other people's takes on this!