Really? Adoptive mom put her kid back on a plane to Russia with a "to whom it may concern" note because she didn't know what to do with him--seriously?
Gah. This is the sort of thing that gives the adoption community ulcers. First, can I just vent that the media does an incredibly sucky job of covering ANY POSITIVE adoption story? Good grief. Are there not hundreds of families who have amazing stories of hope and triumph in overcoming difficulties with their kids--adopted or not? Are the only stories worth covering the failures?
We in the adoption community have lamented that before, so this is not new, nor does it surprise me. But since I have this blog, and since I've got a book published about adoption, as well as being an adoptive mom, I'd like to just say a few things for the record:
1) I don't care WHAT your kid's problem is, you don't put him on a plane and send him back. What part of "forever family" did she not understand? Parents don't get return receipts on children. You don't get a refund. You don't get an exchange. They're not an overgrown puppy to be listed in online classifieds for a "rehoming fee" and they most certainly cannot be thrown out because they weren't what you wanted, expected, or were ready for. They are CHILDREN, and no matter what problems they end up with or how they break your heart or disappoint you, you don't abandon them. Ever. Period. End of discussion.
