Media Story #1: A disabled Edmonton woman is looking for a home for her daughters. How very very sad for this family, and I have no doubts that she wants what's best for her girls. As, I'm sure, do all the people volunteering to adopt. But the way this whole thing has been approached - essentially asking for an adoptive family through social media - does nothing to promote the way adoption works, in reality. Sure, she could put them up for private adoption, rare at any age other than birth, but do-able. But even then, the adoptive parent(s) can't just be John Does off Kijiji, they still have to go through a homestudy and get approved by their province. The girls would most definitely have to go into foster care while waiting for that. And why why why would she turn to Facebook when there are who knows how many waiting parents already approved on legitimate private adoption birthfamily match sites? Why? This story frustrates me. And there's the whole negative stigma on foster system perpetuated here. I get that no one wants to live in a temporary place, it's far from ideal, but it's a solution when nothing else is workable. I don't like the language they use here: "dumped into the foster system"... makes it seem like a garbage heap. Foster families are composed of amazingly strong people, who are HEAVILY screened and supervised by CAS, who give up a lot to take care of young people with nowhere else to go. I wish the world would stop making it seem awful, it's unfair to those who are just trying to help! Anyway, best of luck to this family, I do hope they find a happy ending.
Media Story #2: I need to watch all the The Little Couples because adoption. (And sorry for the cheesy guy commentating on that video.) I don't have TLC at home, and cannot find full episodes / seasons on the website, but I have caught a few here and there at the gym. I was aware they'd adopted their son from China, and would really like to go back a few seasons and watch them through that process. So cool that a mainstream channel is documenting a real family being formed this way! Huzzah for public awareness. And now they've got a second one! Good for them and I'm glad they're sharing.
Media Story #3: The Modern Family "recycled a child" comment. We are HUGE fans of MF, I've used clips many-a-time in various courses that I've taught, totally love it, totally love that they're bringing international adoption into the spotlight in a fictional-but-fairly-accurate way, with some tongue-in-cheek comments about it - always so far, in my opinion, to highlight and eye-roll at misconceptions (e.g. When Cam and Mitch introduce their daughter in S1E1, Phil says, "Lily... won't that be hard for her to pronounce?")... but this comment.... oh dear. I'll admit, I burst out laughing at it, but then slapped my hand over my mouth. And then started giggling again. And then felt horrible. When you think about it, adopting IS the ultimate green thing a parent can do. One of our (minor) reasons we want to adopt is because we want to do our part for the environment and keep the population at a sustainable number. Yah, obviously, one family isn't going to make a difference with seven billion people. But, as they say, you can build a mountain one grain of sand at a time. So I GET where the writers are coming from here and they make a good point in the debate between Mitch and his neighbour. But to liken an adopted child to an empty tin can? Not cool. Not cool to make them feel in any way unwanted, useless, disposable... ever. So in some other of Mitch's words... SHAME!
Media Story #4: Woody Allen makes adoption look horrible. Ugh. Enough said.
Media Story #5 The Simpsons, S24E21. Okay, not so current, but I'm a couple years behind on my Simpsons viewage. But it was new to me recently, and I wanted to save the best for last. In this episode, the viewer learns that Carl is adopted. To an Icelandic family. Who are white. This is just briefly mentioned, almost in passing. No jokes about adoption, transracial adoption, nothing. The story then moves on to be all about "Carl's ancestors" - using those words. No character at any point says anything along the lines of that not being his 'real' family or bloodline. I was waiting for it, and was so happy when it didn't come! So high-fives to you, Simpsons writers! They have highlighted international and transracial adoptions before, with the Selma-Ling plot line, but I haven't re-watched those episodes from an adoptive family perspective yet. Will do then will hopefully send double high-fives to the Simpsons writers.
All for now. Next time, naming! We've got ideas and want your input!
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