Perspectives on Challenged Family Building

When posted, “My Spouse or Partner Wants to Adopt” noted that there are predominant pre-adoptive expectations:

“I want to help a child in need.”
“I am unable to have children.”
“I heard and ad on the radio.” – “Love will be enough.”
“I know what they have been through.”
“I thought a child would strengthen my marriage.”
“A relative’s child needs [...]

You are driving in the car and a song plays on the radio. Suddenly, you are reminded of your first love—you smile.
The song is a trigger—an identifiable situation or event that can create emotional upheaval. A trigger generates feelings. The adoptee with a traumatic past often lacks the skill of verbalizing such emotions. Instead, their [...]

Both fathers and mothers possess the capacity to significantly influence the healthy growth and development of their children with histories of trauma, and to impact their potential as successful and well-adjusted adults. In fact, the child who has two psychologically active parents is:
· exposed to a diverse array of interests and activities
· more socially flexible
· [...]