What is separation anxiety?

Simply put, it is the anxiety a child feels when they are separated from a caregiver they are attached to. It happens after children understand the concept of object permanence. This is when they realize that objects exist even when they are out of their sight. So when a caregiver leaves, they know they are out somewhere but have no idea when or if they’ll return.

Separation anxiety is a completely normal... more

Ella and I headed over to a neighborhood park this morning to play before the heat became unbearable. We had hardly stepped out of the car when we were greeted by two little girls who asked if they could play with Ella. I said “sure” even though Ella was hiding behind my leg and had no intention of moving much farther from me with strangers around.

Then the older of the two (who turned out to be six) turned to Ella and asked: “What’s wrong with her face?” For a split second I thought Ella had something on her face, and then I “got it.”... more

In 2005 Canadians adopted 1,871 children from abroad, but not one of those children was from Guatemala. Although 455 children were adopted from Guatemala between 1995 and 2001, Canada closed the door in 2001.

Adoptions initially came to a halt before Guatemala acceded to the Hague. A report from the United Nation Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights in July 1999... more

Here we go again. The Washington Post online printed an associated press article on Guatemala’s requirement for a second DNA test. I read through it quickly to see what else they had to say as I’m very wary of reports about Guatemalan adoption.

Here is how Guatemalan adoptions are described:

Under Guatemalan law, unregulated notaries act as baby brokers who recruit birth mothers, handle all the paperwork and complete adoptions... more

This is the time of year in poor households in Guatemala referred to as the “hungry months.” Food reserves from the last harvest are gone and food must be bought. With few families making wages sufficient to live on, many people go hungry until the next harvest. To make matters worse, the inflation rate on food is particularly high. For example, in 2005 the price of food and drinks rose by13%.

The Congress of Guatemala voted to create the ... more

Well we finally have the official statement regarding the implementation of a second DNA test for children to be adopted from Guatemala. The State Department announced it earlier today in a conference call with representatives of US adoption agencies.

The Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, Maura Harty says this new requirement is to increase the scrutiny of the unregulated adoption process in Guatemala.

All adoptions finalized on or after August 6th will be required to do this second DNA test. Unlike the first one that verified that the mother giving the child for adoption was the actual birth mother, this DNA test verifies that it is indeed the same child... more

Living in a park like setting for almost eighteen years has been one of our family’s joys. Our property is covered with Maple, Sycamore, Black Walnut, Dogwood and several varieties of Oak trees, to name just a few. When we brought Ella home she loved to sit in her bouncy chair on the front porch and watch the trees. As the leaves rustled, she made raspberry sounds with her lips. The trees had a calming effect on both of us as we sat quietly and enjoyed their majestic presence. Some of the oaks are well over a hundred years old ... more

A reliable source for information on Guatemalan adoptions posted that there is a strong possibility that the US Embassy in Guatemala City will implement a second DNA test that will occur at the end of the adoption process.

The reason for this is to prevent child switching. With the first DNA test often being done on young infants, the photograph is not always a reliable way to verify that the child you ultimately bring home is the same child as the one in the photo. Personally, when I look at the... more

After seeing several posts on forums inquiring about what to take on the pick up trip, I’ve compiled a list that may be helpful. If anyone would like to make additional suggestions, please add them in the comments section.

For You:

1. First and foremost, get all your paperwork organized in a binder, preferably in page protectors so it will be easy to find each page. Put everything you need in this binder and guard it with your life. 2. Pack a camera along with extra batteries or chargers. The electricity there is the same as here.... more

Kudos to my adoption agency for a fabulous reunion picnic on Saturday! It is an annual event that entails a lot of hard work and draws well over 2,000 people. There are multiple activities for children of all ages, food and lots of socializing. The park where it is held has a train, a carousel, mini-golf and lots of play areas that can accommodate such a huge crowd. The staff from our agency is there to greet and meet everyone in person and answer any questions or concerns.

One of the highlights for me was the surprise arrival of special guests... more