Adoption

I have previously linked to Harlow’s Monkey’s post, The Baby Thief: The untold story of Georgia Tann, the baby seller who corrupted adoption. One commenter wrote:

My question is: what do we, as adoptive parents do with this information? I feel in some ways that although I was as diligent as I could be in pursuing an ethical adoption, I am somehow expected to forever wear sackcloth and ashes because I adopted. Do we never adopt again? Do we discourage anyone from ever adopting? I’m not trying to be disrespectful, I genuinely have no idea what I should do, having read this book.

I will not forever wear sackcloth and ashes because I adopted. And, I am adopting again. I think it is important for us to remember that while Georgia Tann played a large part in creating the adoption industry and the adoption laws that our country still operates under, she did not create the need for homes for abandoned and orphaned children. A review of the literature from the late nineteenth and early twentieth century paints a dismal picture of the life of street children. Think about Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Match Girl, Charles Dicken’s Oliver Twist or Lisette from Les Miserables. Human beings have a horrible history of caring for needy children. Single mothers often couldn’t find work if they had a child with them. Children were placed in baby farms. Think of our own country’s Orphan Trains. I am pro-ethical, informed adoption with post placement support.

And, I believe with all my heart that adoptees have a right to their history. When I was outlining the biblical support for open adoptions, I forgot another child who was displaced from his family. While still a teen, Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. The Bible relates his desire to know about his father and he wept when he saw his brother.

Then he asked them about their welfare, and said, “Is your old father well, of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” They said, “Your servant our father is well; he is still alive.” They bowed down in homage. As he lifted his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, he said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me?” And he said, “May God be gracious to you, my son.” Joseph hurried out for he was deeply stirred over his brother, and he sought a place to weep; and he entered his chamber and wept there.
~ Genesis 43:27-30 (NAS)

Our monthly photo update finally arrived. The flu is going around the orphanage and I wonder if David is sick. Beverly isn’t looking too happy either, but that isn’t unusual. I have often wondered if the girls have their hair done immediately before photos. When I was in Haiti, Beverly was a very happy child and always willing to pose and smile for photos.

Perhaps the kids are just crabby because the US Consulate in Haiti has not issued their immigration visas. After 28-months we are finally at the last step of our adoption process. Our petition to have the children declared a relative for the purpose of immigration has been approved. Now, someone in the US Embassy in Haiti has to determine whether or not David and Beverly meet the definition of orphan so that they can get their visas. Sadly, the US Embassy is not processing adoption visas smoothly. This shouldn’t surprise anyone who has followed my adoption. Every single step has broken as soon as I got to it.

On a positive note, CONGRATULATIONS to my friend Aimee who is in Haiti right now picking up her beautiful daughters.

“When a child of the streets stands before you in rags, with a tear-stained face, you cannot easily forget him. And yet, you are perplexed what to do. The human soul is difficult to interfere with. You hesitate how far you should go.” ~ Charles Loring Brace, founder of the Orphan Train