The Adoption Debate

I decided to renew my favorite magazine, Mother Jones and was curious to see an article called Did I Steal My Daughter. I knew immediately it would be about international adoption. The author tells her story about adopting a daughter from guatamala and the ethical concerns she has along the way. She gives a shout-out to CHSM and also mentions Outsiders Within: Writing on Transracial Adoption. She describes the book as, "an anthology that is stirring and stern rebuke to the standard heartwarming adoption narrative." Her husband's immediate reaction is wanting to give their daughter back. As a parent, i sympathize with the gut feeling of just wanting to do the best for your child, even if that means causing you pain.

It is refreshing to hear this adoptive mother bring up issues surrounding the "decision" to "give children up" for adoption (or foster care, etc). They are situations that intertwine with cultural practice and are difficult for our western brains to fully understand. An adoptive parent has the responsibility to be prepared for the questions that may come, and be respectful of the individuality of each child's story, even though it may be easy to throw up the hands and say, "All i had was love in my heart." Although this may be true, it is irresponsible to not acknowledge the complications surrounding their adopted daughter's (or son's) existance.