There are two sides to adoption – adopting and being adopted. Adopting (a child or pet) To dream of adopting someone could indicate a desire to be a parent or have someone to care for and nurture. If you are adopting a child in your dream, it could indicate fears of not being able to bear children naturally, but that you still have a longing to be a parent. Alternatively, dreaming of adoption could signify that you need to take care of an abandoned part of yourself. Adopting a pet can carry the dream meaning of wanting to love and nurture another.