Q: My husband and I are adopting
Hi Love My Kids,
I want to praise you for your decision to adopt the three kids whom I'm sure you love as dearly as you've said.
I suggest you click on the green Find menu on the upper left of this page, and read the information about SZ to educate yourself.
It is possible that a child whose parent has SZ won't develop SZ, and for another child whose parent has SZ, the kid could develop it. Unfortunately, there's no crystal ball when it comes to this.
I would read the info on this link: http://www.schizophrenia.com/earlysigns.htm
for the most detailed list of early warning signs I've ever found on the Internet.
I wouldn't obsess over the possibilities, I would educate myself and be aware.
Because I can tell you this: I had a hard time of it when I was a kid, and my mother wasn't there for me in the way I needed her to be. She didn't realize exactly how hard it was for me and she did everything wrong. I feel if she understood what I was going through and didn't try to change me into her version of the perfect daughter who liked to cook and clean instead of writing poetry and reading the dictionary, I would've had an easier time of it. She did a lot of damage without meaning it.
As an adult, I forgive her because I realize that she did the best she could.
Moral of the story: love can't prevent SZ; however, it can make things a whole lot better for the kid who has it. I was a quirky kid who preferred to stay in her room reading books instead of joining the family for TV shows.
So educate yourself and be aware. Tell your children often that you love them. I'm reminded of the Pretenders' song "I'll Stand By You" with the lyrics: "Nothing you confess/Could make me love you less." Hopefully your kids will feel comfortable coming to you if they are having a hard time. If, as teenagers do, their parents are the last people they'd talk to, be open and encourage them to talk to you.
Oh my, this seems like a lot of information I've given you.
By the way, if you read my Profile here, you'll see I have SZ and turned out OK.
This is because my mother drove me to the hospital within 24 hours of my breakdown, and I got put on meds. So she came through for me when I needed her to. I always believed that was the one thing she was put here in this world to do: drive me to the hospital.
You sound like a loving, giving mother and I wish for you to have many happy, healthy days with your kids.
Regards,
Christina
Glad you are adopting, one good thing is that it is'nt inevitable that any of those 3 children will develop shizophrenia. My advice is always talk and be open to your new child tell them it don't matter what it is they can talk to you. Educate them about the symptoms of schiz in case they develop the disorder they will not be totaly unaware that could cause them to automaticaly assume what is happening is real and cause them not to talk about it. The first episode is the major time for preventing further damage to the childs mind cause the sooner you get the problem fixed the better off the child is! That way no one has to know that they developed the illness and it is imparative that they get meds quickly so they don't have to be as devistated as alot of people who have the illness.
Awareness to the child is the Key. This is my opinion cause if you don't know whats wrong you can't fix it. And the child may be to scared to talk if he/she is not aware of the illness. Without the child telling what is happening to them it usually takes SIX MONTHS to get a diagnosis and get medication. That is to long for anyone to suffer.. Believe me and sometimes it takes longer than that to get help.
Educate the child about stigma, Cause stigma ruins peoples lives it is false beliefs of an illness.
NAMI has alot more information if you don't find it on this site use other search engines. God Bless you 
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Christina...thank you so much for your informative and kind reply. :) Honestly, you made me feel more confident and I will definitely continue to educate my husband and myself about SZ. I am so glad I found this website and hope to use it as a resource in the future. My kids are so amazing and I want to be here for them no matter what comes their way! You are a beautiful person and I thank you for sharing.