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Over the years, I have had the pleasure of experiencing a meeting-with-the-minds with a few really awesome (and very honest) Amoms.  Among the topics we discuss is the 'paper pregnancy', as exhibited in blogs that help explain what a paper pregnancy means.  As one blogger puts it, paper pregnancy is the technical term for one who is wading through the mountains of nightmarish paperwork required to bring home a precious

Much has been written in the last week about the case of Angelyn Lisseth Hernández Rodríguez (aka Dulce Maria or Karen Abigail) daughter of Loira Rodrígue, and much of the discussion revolves around the question, what is in the best interest of the girl involved.

Ethica puts it like this:

And really, the bottom line is this: in this case, and in thousands like it, there is a child, and she is no longer living with the loving family that intended to raise her. She was adopted by people who love her and intended to raise her, too. In the balance swings the child, her entire life experience shaped not by her parents, but by those who stand to profit from the very experiences that cause her trauma.

While it is certainly true that much of Angelyn Lisseth's life is shaped by those who have profited from her sales, Ethica's statement introduces a false equivalence between her real parents and her adoptive parents.

Allegations of corruption at Nepal Children's Organization (NCO/Bal Mandir)

In May, the Mitrataa Foundation took over running Bal Mandir (a five year contract) despite serious reservations over the "severe corruption" at Nepal Children's Organization:

Mitrataa Foundation -- Annual Report 2010

10. Bal Mandir

Today we added the 500th case to our abuse case archive. This dubious honor goes to a case of sexual abuse of a ten-year-old girl adopted by Jon Paul Reid. Among the 500 cases we have archived over the past three years, this case, unfortunately, doesn't stand out as particularly exceptional. There have been many children like the Reid girl before, and since little is done to prevent these situations, we will likely have to document several similar cases in the future.

When we started collecting cases of abuse in child placement, we weren't certain about the extent of the problem. In fact the initiative for this archive was partially inspired by the desire to find out the extent of the problem.

Not too long ago I discovered a sales-pitch found only in Adoptionland, and I openly admit, I find this pitch incredibly offensive, for reasons I will gladly explain later, if asked.  For now, I wish to re-showcase the marketing tool used by a hotel in China and the toy company, Mattel.  There is an exclusive give-away given only to adopters who choose to adopt from and stay in China.  What's the "free" give-away?  A white Barbie Doll, named,

• adoptees
• adoption language
• advertising
• China
• culture
• identity issues
• international adoption
• internet adoption
• marketing
• money
• orphans
• Sick Pups
• transcultural adoption
• transracial adoption

In another post/thread, the cost of search-angels has been raised as an adoption issue worthy of further discussion.

Picture this scene:

Sitting outside in a nice street cafe, with some casual friends, small-talking about whatever.
Questions coming up, like: Jared, what have you been doing lately?

Jared admits that he´s been reading l o t s about adoption.
Gives lots of explanation as to why, and what ... Talking a bit about family matters and younger (adopted) brother's current crisis.

One of the friends knows someone who adopted internationally.

<Follows lively report on how the child's been doing.>

I was watching a movie with my twins today.  Readers need to understand, when it comes to spending time with my older kids, I struggle.  Parenting/mommy-ing was much easier when my annoying, demanding heathens were newborns, or at the very least, much much younger, when their very simple basic needs, were very simple, basic, and easy. 

<longing for for the long-gone 'easy' days... because the looks on their faces told me I was/am a good decent parent> coupled with <tired, frustrated, annoyed and really stressed-out sigh>