Not much to write about today as I ranted last night about Alex's letter from his teacher. I read where we were last year in Ukraine this morning and wouldn't you know it, we're talking to the very teacher that sent yesterday's letter!
How naive I was back then....
Here's is today's link.
How naive I was back then....
Here's is today's link.
http://blessedwitharichhart.blogspot.com/2009/04/april-15th.html
I did get the utmost complement through the grapevine this morning. Apparently my "crazy mother" performance was the best "ask someone to a dance" anyone has ever heard of. Wow. Really? I am so honored. I feel like I just won an Academy Award!
In other news....the 7 year old Russian orphan that was sent back last week? Well, looks like ALL Russian adoptions are on hold because of it.
I did get the utmost complement through the grapevine this morning. Apparently my "crazy mother" performance was the best "ask someone to a dance" anyone has ever heard of. Wow. Really? I am so honored. I feel like I just won an Academy Award!
In other news....the 7 year old Russian orphan that was sent back last week? Well, looks like ALL Russian adoptions are on hold because of it.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36543759
With regards to this story, I found this letter really hits the nail on the head-especially given what I find out in bits and pieces about Alex's past and the abuse both emotional and physical that he has had not only at the hands of his birth mother but in the orphanage.
This is from RainbowKids.com an International Adoption Advocacy Website
With regards to this story, I found this letter really hits the nail on the head-especially given what I find out in bits and pieces about Alex's past and the abuse both emotional and physical that he has had not only at the hands of his birth mother but in the orphanage.
This is from RainbowKids.com an International Adoption Advocacy Website
Sad, sad news over the last week. There has been great outrage, anger, blame and finger pointing over the disrupted adoption of a 7-year-old Russian child and his abrupt return to Russia over this last week. Today it has been announced that Russia will suspend adoptions to the USA. During this time, I have wondered, "where is the outrage for the thousands of children who are housed in hopeless institutions with minimal care and daily abuse from the other children?"
The exact conditions that may have traumatized this young child and greatly contributed to this situation, are barely mentioned. No one absolves the mother.She had options and chose to do something outrageous and selfish. But her actions are only one part of this. The unspoken rule is that those of us who work to find homes for these children must never, never criticize the governments that allow these wretched institutions to continue. Adoptive parents must be grateful...and silent, to insure that international adoption continues, and a few lucky children find peace in a family of their own. Volunteers must quietly work to make changes in the orphanages, for fear of offending those in power. Yes, this story makes me very upset, and sad for all of the children who will now continue to suffer. And for the families who have waited, longingly, to give their love to these children.
And now we wait, with our only hope once again in the hands of government policy makers. I suggest that the meeting scheduled for the 20th take place in the largest, most rural orphanage that can be found in Russia. Let our governments meet, and come to their decision, surrounded by the children's lives and futures that hang in the balance.
The exact conditions that may have traumatized this young child and greatly contributed to this situation, are barely mentioned. No one absolves the mother.She had options and chose to do something outrageous and selfish. But her actions are only one part of this. The unspoken rule is that those of us who work to find homes for these children must never, never criticize the governments that allow these wretched institutions to continue. Adoptive parents must be grateful...and silent, to insure that international adoption continues, and a few lucky children find peace in a family of their own. Volunteers must quietly work to make changes in the orphanages, for fear of offending those in power. Yes, this story makes me very upset, and sad for all of the children who will now continue to suffer. And for the families who have waited, longingly, to give their love to these children.
And now we wait, with our only hope once again in the hands of government policy makers. I suggest that the meeting scheduled for the 20th take place in the largest, most rural orphanage that can be found in Russia. Let our governments meet, and come to their decision, surrounded by the children's lives and futures that hang in the balance.
3 of my blog friends said something...:
Okay. I'm caught up reading. I agree wholeheartedly. Russia pointing fingers at the mother who didn't want to parent that little boy any longer. How about pointing fingers at themselves for not taking care of their children and allowing these kids to live in the conditions they live in. Have you thought about writing a letter to Alex's teacher and asking her about the mistreatment he tells you about? I would love to hear her reaction. Does she think these kids don't eventually talk about what she has done. I feel blessed that my Alex hasn't been subjected to that at his school, only by his mother. When I ask him what they did to punish him at school, he said they had to stand against the wall and think about what they did. That sounds reasonable, right?
I thought about writing a letter but I don't want to cause problems for the parents adopting after me. I sound just like the silent parents in that letter. But really, I know the moms and the kids who I would jeopardize and as much as I want to call her and the director on things, I can't. I can't let my anger hurt another child's chance of getting out of there.
I'm glad your Alex hasn't had these issues. My Alex didn't tell me for months about these things. I think he was ashamed or thought I'd think he deserved it. He was petrified to go to school and has flinched from his teacher and she is like the sweetest thing. He asked her once if she was going to hit him with a stick when he did something wrong.
Talked with Jen and she's game. I told her to name a date and time!
well worded letter!
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