As someone who is interested in adoption I am stunned and saddened, as many are, by recent news. An American woman (in Tennessee, thank you very much) boarded her seven-year-old Russian adopted son on a one-way-flight to Russia BY HIMSELF with a note saying that she did not want to parent him anymore (due to his psychological problems). The family paid a man $200 to pick the boy up at the Moscow airport and take him to the Russian Education and Science Ministry.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/04/10/national/a015526D78.DTL#ixzz0ki0ZZFXr
Though this is now international news, here is the full story from our local paper.
http://www.tennessean.com/article/D4/20100409/NEWS01/100409019/7-year-old+adopted+boy+sent+back+to+Russia+unaccompanied+on+a+United+Airlines+flight
When you adopt an older child (he was six) you have to know there is a risk of that child having some emotional issues to work out. Fetal alcohol syndrome is also a possibility with a child who was taken out of a home with an alcoholic biological parent. Though the family claims to have been misled about him and has stated that the boy was violent (he has said the same thing about the adoptive mother) why were these issues not addressed and worked on with a social worker or therapist? You can't just send a kid back, on an international flight by himself, with a note! (Local officials say it is not clear if an actual law has been broken)
A Russian official called this the last straw after a series of adoptions gone wrong and has declared a moratorium on all adoptions from Russia to the US for the time being. Who can blame him? I feel for all the good people in the midst of adopting from Russia who are now left to wonder where this leaves them.
To my first on his 14th, 15th, and 16th
4 years ago
6 comments:
oh my heart broke for that poor little boy... My best neighbor froiends adopted their daughter and son from Russia 10 years ago.. what beautiful healthy children who found parents that are equally as fantastic...... hugs to you
Regardless of whether there were psychological issues with the boy, that was absolutely wrong. I'm so sad that it happened and resulted in that moratorium. Just so sad.
I was so saddened by this. I saw it on the news and was devastated by this woman's inhumanity. After all this child has been through already, to be rejected again. It is awful. She is a disappointment to parents and children everywhere.
I am so sad about this. I read this on aol. I just can't believe you can send a child that is yours who is only seven alone back to his old country and say bye bye.
SHE knew the risks of adopting an older child from institution. She didn't even give him a chance or take him to a therapist.
I am actually writing about this tomorrow... so sad.
Oh this really is heartbreaking. Poor baby...
THis whole situation is extremely sad and disappointing. I hope the little boy gets a family that will love him unconditionally.
Post a Comment