Adoption Flotsam and Jetsam

I haven't written anything about adoption in awhile. Mostly because I don't have any real issues right now. Mal is 16, I think there will be very little that will be new to me as far as the triad of our adoption. I have my place pretty much figured out (at least today), any new issues for me will likely be generated by exploration either by Mal or Noelle.

Mace still has stuff that my cause me to do some mental gymnastics. Right now both of his first parents are quiet, so I know little of their issues. I think much of it is too painful for them so they are in denial about this whole thing for mental and emotional self-preservation.

So if I am going to write about adoption it's in two areas a)the navel gazing and b)adoption in the media.

I have a navel gazing post on "sharing motherhood" based on some of Dawn's writing. I still have some stuff I need to contemplate but my guess is you will see a post either later this week or later today. I'm baking, so I will have some pondering time.

On the media front:

Movies- there are two. August Rush and the upcoming Juno. I have to tell you that just watching the trailer for Juno was kind of heartbreaking. It looks like a great movie. But I know the end will mean someone's heart is broken, even when someone else is feeling joy. Mal really wants to see it, she is the one who told me about it. Perhaps we will do a review sometime in December. Mal saw August Rush yesterday and was "eh" about it. I'll see if she will review it.

Newspapers- there is a famous newspaper in the city where the Rockettes live that has done a series of blog entries by adoptees, first parents and adoptive parents. Some of them have been great, some have done more harm than good. My critique is that this whole series is so slanted toward international adoption. There are so many issues to explore in domestic adoption (foster and infant) that it would have been nice to have this main steam forum to raise some of those issues-ethical adoption, openess, open access to records, changing perceptions of "birth" parents. I would have liked to see domestic and international share the stage a bit more.

And lastly, November is National Adoption Month. I used to help organize seminars and panels in November. I like talking about adoption. I still am proud to have built my family partially through adoption. I am still so, so thankful that Noelle became this integral person in my life. I believe adoption can be the best option for many families, both adoptive and birth. But everything I have to say about how adoption is done can no longer fit in an evening. It's complicated. As wonderful as it has been for our family, it has been just as tragic for others.

Anything anyone wants to chime in on, here? Any topics or questions about adoption?

Comments

[cynthia]

Yeah, I do.
I've been wondering for awhile how/if Mal's visit with her Noelle and family has affected their relationship (since it was the first big solo one, right?) Also, in hindsight, did the timing of that seem right for all- vs doing it earlier?
Thanks for writing Lisa- I resonate with what you said about still being a proud adoptive parent... but also feeling that its too complex to describe simply without leaving a lot of what is really important out.
Cynthia

[Round is Funny]

I saw August Rush. It was very much about adoption but really stepped around a lot of the tricky stuff (which is why I think the boy was in a group home, not an adoptive home). I'd love to hear what Mal thought about it.