Campbell Brown News Video on Adoption: Click to Watch Interview
Here is the article written by the woman in the interview: ADOPTION ARTICLE
Fred and I have been very lucky and blessed with our adoptions. Both Ellie and Sagan blended into our family almost seamlessly.
Ellie came from the Fuling Orphanage where she had very little one to one contact. When she was given to me and she had a taste of what a mother's attention and love could be she thrived. Ellie wanted to be with me all the time. She would rest her hand on my arm or leg and if I moved from her side her head would whip around and look at me. She couldn't be without me or Fred.
Sagan came from a foster home in South Korea where she was given undivided attention from her foster mom. She was sent home with lots and lots of photos of the two of them as well as gifts. She was catered to and loved for the 12 months she was in this woman's home. So when she came home it was very hard for her. The first night she cried horribly. Her heart was broken. Where was her foster mom? The three months that followed were so difficult to her. She had to learn to love us and trust us. She would cry and throw little tantrums. It was hard. We thought we made a mistake.
Things got much better after the first three months. She settled in, went to a babysitter 2 mornings a week to play with children her age, and she began to trust us.
Adoption an older child is very hard. They have so many memories. Then there is the language transition. They do not understand what you are saying and must learn a whole new language. In addition, you don't know the conditions from where they came. If there was abuse or neglect. These are factors that impact their personality and behaviors. When you accept the referral of a an orphaned child all you get is a brief medical history, some personal information and a photograph. It's not a whole lot to go on. When you are an adoptive parent all you want to do is love and care for a child who needs a loving home. There are so many factors.
While I do not agree with what the mom of the little Russian boy did sending him alone back to Russia I can understand the difficulties of a child that is struggling to adapt.
Ellie came from the Fuling Orphanage where she had very little one to one contact. When she was given to me and she had a taste of what a mother's attention and love could be she thrived. Ellie wanted to be with me all the time. She would rest her hand on my arm or leg and if I moved from her side her head would whip around and look at me. She couldn't be without me or Fred.
Sagan came from a foster home in South Korea where she was given undivided attention from her foster mom. She was sent home with lots and lots of photos of the two of them as well as gifts. She was catered to and loved for the 12 months she was in this woman's home. So when she came home it was very hard for her. The first night she cried horribly. Her heart was broken. Where was her foster mom? The three months that followed were so difficult to her. She had to learn to love us and trust us. She would cry and throw little tantrums. It was hard. We thought we made a mistake.
Things got much better after the first three months. She settled in, went to a babysitter 2 mornings a week to play with children her age, and she began to trust us.
Adoption an older child is very hard. They have so many memories. Then there is the language transition. They do not understand what you are saying and must learn a whole new language. In addition, you don't know the conditions from where they came. If there was abuse or neglect. These are factors that impact their personality and behaviors. When you accept the referral of a an orphaned child all you get is a brief medical history, some personal information and a photograph. It's not a whole lot to go on. When you are an adoptive parent all you want to do is love and care for a child who needs a loving home. There are so many factors.
While I do not agree with what the mom of the little Russian boy did sending him alone back to Russia I can understand the difficulties of a child that is struggling to adapt.
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