Reply to what's the easiest way to adopt a healthy older child?

Forum Index » Parenting -- Special Concerns

Reply to "what's the easiest way to adopt a healthy older child?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous]We used Open Door Adoption in Georgia (the state, not the country) for our intl. adoption.  They are a Christian organization, so work with Christian families.

I would second the PP who advised you to consider the impact to your existing family unit of an older child adoption.  I would not do it unless your bio kids are older teens who are stable and have the maturity to weather the adjustment challenges.  And there will be many.  Older children come with their own histories---all of which contain loss and trauma.

I would also consider adopting a sibling pair if possible.  That way the adopted child won't feel quite so isolated.  To understand the complex internal landscape of older child foster kids and adoptees, I would recommend watching the following short videos---Part I and Part II---each is about 10 minutes.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOeQUwdAjE0

They are excellent in showing the internal pain---often hidden---of foster kids, but are also applicable to older adoptees.  I would add though, that older child adoption brings a sense of security and healing to these kids that foster care does not.  The journey is long, the rewards immeasurable.

When I walked into my 9 yo DD's first school performance after her arrival here, she started waving happily when she spotted my coat.  I waved back, and then ducked for a moment so she wouldn't see me cry---because I realized that moment was the first time in her life she had ever had a parent come to see and support her.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics