[kalynn]

Hi, I'm really glad to have found a bulliten board for foster care adoption. I've been around on other adoption boards, but have found none specific to adoption from fostor care, and have often wanted to talk to others who adopted in a way similar to myself. My dd was adpopted at 1 1/2 from fostor care in Ontario. Our adoption anniversary is this week - we first met her 3 years ago on July 2. We brought her home on July 10 and finalized the adoption in May the next year. So, I'm not really which date we are supposed to celebrate, we usually just pick one date the first week of July as she isn't really old enough to figure it all out yet.

One thing that worries me about her is that she is super, super friendly. She is the only child. She gets plenty of attention at home, I work full time but my husband works shift work, so mostly one of us is with her all the time. She goes to a half day preschool program 3-4 mornings a week which she loves. We play with her a lot at home and take her out around other kids daily when possible.

However, she is almost to the embarassing point, you would think we don't give her any attention. She latches on to other families who give her any attention at all when out. She will leave us and go over and act like she is a part of their family. She will often choose families with numerous children, who are active, she seems to love that type of environment. She will come back to us, briefly to check in, but then as long as she is getting attention from the other family she will return to them.

She is very friendly to other kids and can always make a friend to play with in the park or wherever we are - younger or older it doesn't matter. She plays quite well with other children, though she can be directive if they let her. She has recently become almost obsessed with the neighbors and their two children. Whenever she hears one of the children outside she literally runs to go and talk to them. We have had to ban her from going over into their yard without permission from us, but she will run outside and interact through the fence or yell out the window if we prevent her from going outside.

She is also very interested in obtianing food and will hang around anyone who is eating to see if they will offer her something. She was overfed (but apparently well cared for) in her fostor home.

Sorry this got lengthy! But, I've been really wondering where the line of outgoing/social personality stops and some sort of attachment problem begins??? What does this sound like to others who have had experience with children adopted from fostor care? A part of her personality or a problem? I would really appreciate comments/advice.

BTW, she has never been very affectionate, especially with me. She does not like kisses (still), will not sit on your lap/be held for more than 30 seconds, but is generally very active anyway so it's hard to tell if she just can't sit still. I have to do horseplay with her in order to get a few kisses in.

Thanks, looking forward to this group.

Kalynn