[Jim_in_PA]

I have no doubt that some of the 700,000+ children who are considered "without parental support" in Russia are treated well and fairly. But I also know that there are many more who have had troubled lives. Like everywhere in society, there are people who care deeply and I know that many of the caretakers take their work seriously and love these children dearly. And then there are the others who are either indifferent or blatently abusive. And I'd be remiss by not extending these comments beyond Russia to any country anywhere in the world. This is reality.

Each of our children has had a different experience. Our challenge as parents is to nurture the good and help the "bad" recede into history, not not without acknowledging it exists nor forgetting it may very well affect attachment, development and so much more.

I do find the apparent movement in many areas to move to foster care encouraging as long as it's carefully monitored. As anyone who has looked into domestic adoption knows, foster care is not without it's problems, too...