In 2005 and 2006 the average adoption from Guatemala used to take 4-7 months from the referral to completion; now you are looking at 8-10 months or longer. Add the uncertainty of the future of Guatemalan adoptions and PAPs (prospective adopting parents) of Guatemalan children have a lot to contend with these days.

In the past it was stressful enough worrying if you would get stuck in Family Court or PGN. Now PAPs are worrying if their children will come home at all when changes are implemented in the Guatemalan adoption process.

Rumors about the future of Guatemalan adoptions haunt the internet. One day you will hear that everything will shut down at the end of the year; the next day you hear that there will not be a shut down, but a slow down. Some agencies are telling their clients that even if adoptions are shut down it will only be temporary.

The untrustworthy media, always hungry for attention adds fuel to the fire by jumping on every rumor they hear and sensationalizing it. When will they leave Guatemala alone? All they do is inject an unhealthy dose of hysteria and often indignation into the public opinion pool.

PAPs (prospective adopting parents) need a lot of support from family, friends and their adoption agencies right now. Friends and family will do well NOT to report every little thing they hear about Guatemalan adoptions, and it might be wise to tell them this if it brings some peace of mind.

Adoption agencies get a lot of their information from their lawyers in Guatemala, but even though lawyers in Guatemala have a lot of power, ultimately the government will decide the fate of adoptions. With the Bergers leaving office and bent on passing some restrictive legislation before then, the outcome is anyone’s guess.

But in this interim period agencies will do well to be honest and forthcoming with their clients. People have put their faith in them and deserve to be treated with respect and understanding. This difficult period will definitely be the opportunity for good agencies to shine and bad agencies to expose their weaknesses and hopefully clean up their acts or get out of adoptions.

I spoke to my friend “P” today and asked her how she was handling the wait. She decided that she was going to get off the internet for a while in order to get some peace of mind. I don’t blame her. Living with the daily anxiety takes its toll on your mental and physical health.

Extra Reading:

The Tarnished Reputation of Guatemalan Adoptions

Is Adoption From Guatemala Wrong?

Support During the Adoption Process