quote:
Originally posted by garrie keyman:
Soon we'll have internationally adopted children, too, since we are in the process of getting two girls from Eastern Europe -- ages 8 & 11 -- who are not, themselves, biologically related. I had to laugh at the comment about different birthparents! Between my eight children there will be a total of five birthmothers and four birthfathers (my husband was married once before and we have 2 kids to that marriage as well as three to our own).

I would think that with all the feeling of abandonment an adoptee might endure, they might also mature to the point that they can look at the situation of having been adopted in an entirely diff. light. After all, not only did one parent or set of parents love you, but TWO...those that gave birth to you and those that took you as their own; for to give up a child for adoption is often a loving act, although as a society we don't tend to think of it that way. There are many reasons why people wind up adopted. Perhaps the most important issue is that there continue to be people out there who want to adopt them.

Any alternative to this is usually not very pretty.
Garrie, I admire your zest for life and raising these children at this stage of the game. I must say that I'm enjoying that fact that my kids become more independent every day.

You mention the alternative. Reminds me of the little guy my husband mentors. He lives in an orphanage and life is so unfair for him right now. I have tried not to get involved because it breaks my heart. He lives in a lovely center, nice people, good food, clean, good school, but there's no place like home. Unfortunately, he's better off there than his own home. Sad, isn't it?

[ January 29, 2004, 08:37 AM: Message edited by: Dotsie ]