[angelkisses0102]

I didn't see the show but...after reading thru this thread I have to comment.

We, as IA parents gripe and complain...go on email writing tirades, whatever when the 13 cases of Russian adoptions (y'all know the 13 I am certain) get thrown into the forefront of the news. We say 'but what about the rest of us, the happy stories'...'why can't the show educate' blah, blah blah....

But then a show like this one comes on and WE the IA parents, we perpetuate another adoption myth...'see that's why I didn't do domestic'...'the birthmother is gonna steal away the baby' blah, blah blah.

If we ever expect society to view Russian adoptions in the proper light...shouldn't we as aparents stop feeding into the media frenzy of myth being the reality of adoption. We should educate ourselves on adoption and birthparents, and raising an adoptee (that's what our kiddos are) before we can even begin to expect someone who is not familiar with adoption to speak the truths.

We also have to educate ourselves on what we say and how it impacts our kids...every single one of our kids have a birth mother...can't change that. The way we speak and act toward birthmothers can and will impact our kids.

Our kids are different than bio kids...they have us, they have their birth parents...they have this country and their birth country...they have experienced things most bio kids never will...they have 'issues'...I recently read something that went like this...'If you expect to hop on a plane, pick up your child, slap on a Gap outfit and think your child will be fine...international adoption is not for you.' It is just the way it is. But if we educate and are educated...we can all live our lives and be happy with ourselves and our families...our realities.

It is sad we set expectations for us and our Russian adoptions yet slip and fall right into the myths of domestic adoption.

OK...off that soapbox...