Nightmare on PAP Street

Boy, howdy. Sometimes adoption issues are scary. In fact, terrifying.

I just read some bone-chilling bonding problem tales on some of my yahoo groups. Gads. I think that I never would have adopted my dear little girl at 22 months of age if I was aware of those stories ahead of time. And that would have been a tragedy.

But ye gods, it is truly a risk, isn't it? You're putting yourself out there, hoping to high heaven that you are matched with a child who is capable of bonding with you, given time and patience. I was a first-time parent when we adopted our sweet girl. I didn't know from bonding. I just tried to keep body and soul together for all three of us and, ultimately, it worked out somehow. I sure know the first few months weren't a lot of fun. But she didn't bite or kick me, spit anything in my face (on purpose, anyway-- she was 22 months, after all!) and she let me pick her up, no problem. I gather this is not the case for everyone.

So. We put ourselves out there. We implore the Powers that Be for good luck. We hope for the best. And try not to think too much about the alternative...