[akcskye]

The skies have opened, and the hallelujah chorus is singing...

My children are 11 and 9 (placed in August with us at 9 and 10).

We have no biological children. These children come from a history of SA and neglect. Surprisingly enough, there is no recommendation for therapy, and attachments are forming well...and not too quickly (which could be a RAD red flag).

Now, I *may* be the exception to the rule...but finalization is going to happen next month or early March, and things have been going great.

Everything we have been going through as a family is what most "normal" families are going through (forgetfullness, school parties and dances, basketball games, and the like).

Our children are well behaved and well adjusted.

I don't know HOW we got so lucky, especially for first time parents to receive such a blessed gift of a 9 and 10 year old who ARE so well adjusted...but for those who are getting weary of the bad news...good older child adoption DOES happen. Like another poster said, it's just not a normal thing to do to "post" when things aren't problematic.

The children are responding to us so well. It's not been all hearts and flowers...my boy was quite defiant when he first moved in, but it's been almost 2 months without an episode that was almost 2 or 3 times a week when he first moved in. He needed to see we'd accept him at his "worst".

We researched adoption for almost 2 years...we read and read and asked and asked, and then we met...and it was absolutely wonderful.

Though my case probably isn't the norm, again, don't let other people's horror stories tear into you...a good older child adoption can happen.

Originally Posted by mglover

After reading all the postings, my original dream of adopting an older (6-10 yr) child from the foster care system doesn't seem so great. Are there any success stories? Is this something a "normal" family can handle? and Are all older kids in the foster care system RAD?