I'VE HAD MY FC FOR 1+ YEARS BROUGHT HOME FROM HOSPITAL, AND IT HAS BEEN THE UNDERSTANDING THAT I WOULD ADOPT THE CHILD WITH THE CONSENT OF FAMILY MEMBERS, NOW THAT FC HAS GONE INTO ADOPTION STATUS, FAMILY MEMBERS CHANGED THEIR MINDS. VISITATION HAS BEEN STOPPED AND THE REINSTATED. SINCE THAT TIME, CHILD NOW RECOGNIZES FAMILY AND SPEAKS OF THEM CONTINUOUSLY. CHILD WILL TURN 3 ON 3-15-04. MY QUESTION IS DOES A CHILD REALLY KNOW WHERE THEY WANT TO LIVE AT THIS AGE OR WHAT? SHOULD I WITHDRAW MY INTERESTED STATUS? IS FAMILY ALWAYS BEST? CHILD CLEARLY KNOWS ME AS MOMMY, BUT ALSO KNOWS THE FAMILY. AFTER THREE YEARS, I AM COMPLETELY EXHAUSTED AND WORN OUT. THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST TIME CONSUMING ORDEAL. I LOVE MY LITTLE GIRL, BUT IF MY TRYING TO ADOPT HER FROM HER FAMILY IS CAUSING HER TRAUMA, THAT IS NOT MY INTENT.
I JUST WANT THIS TO BE OVER. IS THIS ALWAYS LIKE THIS OR WHAT? I AM SERIOUSLY THINKING WHETHER OR NOT I WILL CONTINUE TO DO FOSTER/ADOPTION CARE CUZ IT'S TO O TRAUMATIZING. PLEASE HELP?
