Dawn Day
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2016
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I think adoptive parents sometimes have different expectations of the adopted child, than do biological parents. It was alluded to in the adoption disruption article. The adoption worker talked about counseling the parents and asking them if they will be able to handle it if the child doesn’t love them for possibly weeks or months. That tells me it may be a common expectation of the parents that the child will instantly love them. If the parents have that expectation, I can only imagine the hurt and pain that results when that “fantasy” is not fulfilled by the child. I can imagine that pain being transformed to anger, even rage, at the child for not “fulfilling their end of the unspoken agreement”, namely—I will rescue you from horrific circumstances, give you a home, feed and clothe you, educate you, love you and in return you are to provide me with unconditional love and gratitude.
I’ve had very enlightening conversations with my husband about this topic. He was adopted by his step father, raised with his mother and subsequent brothers who were the bio sons of his adopted father (stepfather). His mom apparently would tell him how lucky he was to have “”Adam** for a father. He said he was raised feeling he must display gratitude in a way his brothers were not. He says “They were loved because it was their birthright. Me, I needed Luck to be loved”. The message was: He didn’t have to be your dad. He chose to. Don’t make him regret that choice.
I’ve had very enlightening conversations with my husband about this topic. He was adopted by his step father, raised with his mother and subsequent brothers who were the bio sons of his adopted father (stepfather). His mom apparently would tell him how lucky he was to have “”Adam** for a father. He said he was raised feeling he must display gratitude in a way his brothers were not. He says “They were loved because it was their birthright. Me, I needed Luck to be loved”. The message was: He didn’t have to be your dad. He chose to. Don’t make him regret that choice.