[la vida loca]

Please know that I in no way fault you for wanting to help this child! I certainly don't intend for you to feel slammed or attacked. It may be that even with the dissenting opinions voiced here you may decide to continue with your plans and that may in fact be the right decision. That said, adoption is permanent and once that mother/child bond is broken it will never the same.

I'm not coming from a pollyanna point of view, being around my father was like taking emotional poison and I don't miss having him around, but I also learned some valuable life lessons by having him as a father. It was the other people in my life who sustained me and showed me a better way to live and it sounds like you are one of those positive people in this girl's life. Whatever happens, I hope that role can continue!

I wish you peace with whatever decision you make.