Continued from here ...

And now ... the gains.

African Adoption Blogger, Holly Richardson recently wrote about her daughter, Rachel, describing the events that led her to the family through a disruption and how wonderful it's turned out to be:

... my heart just did flips - she was SO cute and I wanted to be her mama SO much! She is my sweet girl that defied all the normal adoption “rules”. It did not take a long time, it was not an emotional roller coaster, she does not have any “extra” issues (just the normal adoption ones, LOL) and it did NOT take 4 years to have reciprocal attachment.

Yes, just because a placement didn't work, doesn't mean that the kid won't be just right in another family.

Homestudy ready families may reap the benefit of a disruption by opening their hearts to children that once again find themselves in need of just such a love option.

Take, for example, this sibling group, perhaps an older parent's dream instant family:

This sibling group of four was born in Russia and brought to the USA in 11/05. Their blind grandmother who could no longer provide for them placed them in the orphanage in February 2004. William came home after being placed in the orphanage just a few months. He has been in the USA for 2.5 years. When the family found out about the siblings, they returned to Russia to bring them home as well 11 months ago.

William has some developmental and educational delays. He currently has an IEP to assist him in school. He is in Kindergarten and making good grade and progress. While he was in the orphanage, he had to have his right arm amputated due to a blood clot cased by an IV line. William has been diagnosed with ADHD and received occupational therapy. He is a very compliant child who tries to please adults. He gets along well with peers. Will is also very attached to his family and siblings

Alexander is in the Second Grade and receives some ESL services. He receives average grades. Alex is very healthy and gets along well with adults and peers. He is described as very talented in many areas. Alexander enjoys sports especially football.

Tamara is in the Third grade and received good grades. She receives ESL services. She gets along well with peers although she sometimes clashes with her siblings. She is very healthy at this time. Tamara enjoys cheering for the local peewee football team.

Ksenia is in the Fifth grade and receives good grades. She is very intelligent and enjoys school. She is described as sensitive and can easily have her feelings hurt. Ksenia is also very caring and helpful.

All of the children are bonded to their current family. They do not demonstrate any behavioral problems. All are healthy.

Reasons for disruption are as varied as the families finding themselves in the circumstance ... this one has the father serving in Iraq and the mother simply overwhelmed.

For information on kids available from disruptions, you can start by looking at A Child's Waiting, the Welcome Garden, Rainbow Kids, social workers, agencies and adoption attorneys.

Other sites of interest are:

-- Ranch for Kids for "at risk" Russian adoptees who may be experiencing difficulties in their new families in the U.S. This program was developed through joint cooperation with agencies and child welfare organizations where troubled children adopted from Russia could come for respite care and/or referral to licensed agencies for placement into a new adoptive home.

-- China Disruptions, a group for families who've adopted a China-born child whose original adoption or disrupted.


-- Parenting Disrupted is for, "those who are parenting a child after a disruption. The intended purpose is to share our trials, tribulations and triumphs of this unique situation that our children are in.

I cannot suggest strongly enough that those looking to adopt older children investigate the possibilities of finding THE child (or children) amongst those whose first adoptions have disrupted.

Granted, some of these kids may present challenges, and not every potential parent will be suited for any given child, but that does not mean that the perfect child FOR YOU isn't waiting somewhere right now for another chance.