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Autumn 2002 (10.3)
Page
18
Newsmakers
AzerbaijanAdopt
ListServ
by Jean
Patterson
Public interest in adopting
children from Azerbaijan has been growing steadily ever since
the country legalized foreign adoptions in 2000. In some cases,
the parents had initially tried to adopt from countries like
Russia, China, Kazakhstan and Vietnam, but in the end, opted
for Azerbaijan. To date, more than 60 Azerbaijani children have
been adopted.
Left to right: Matthew Bergman, held up by Ron
Trecker; Murad Grayson Hoffman; Gabrielle Barnard and Inara Abernathy.
Other articles related to
Azerbaijan Adoptions and Orphanages in Azerbaijan
A Home for Inara
- Azerbaijan's First Adoption
Guidelines
- Adopting a Child from Azerbaijan
AzerbaijanAdopt
ListServ
British
Airways Adopts Orphanage
Saving the Children: Mobil Undertakes Orphanage
Project
Children's
Games Build Bridges: International Women's Club Reaches Out
The Internet has many resources available for those who would
like to find out more about adopting from Azerbaijan. By far,
the most helpful Internet resource currently available is the
AzerbaijanAdopt ListServ set up by Kimi Abernathy in December
2001. This open forum, found on Yahoo! Groups, is specifically
designed for families who have adopted a child from Azerbaijan,
families who are in the process of an Azerbaijani adoption or
those who are considering Azerbaijani adoptions. Less than one
year after it was established, the AzerbaijanAdopt ListServ has
already grown to nearly 150 members. Kimi and her husband, Bill,
became the first foreigners to adopt a child from Azerbaijan
in May 2000. [To read Kimi's touching story of adopting their
daughter, Inara, see the article "A
Home for Inara: At Last, Azerbaijan's First Adoption"
in AI 9.3 (Autumn 2001). SEARCH AZER.com.]
Discussions on the ListServ vary widely. The members are extremely
helpful and supportive of others who are in the process of adopting
from Azerbaijan. They discuss every stage of the process, including
the track records and costs of adoption agencies, details of
where to stay in Baku, and what kind of toys and food supplements
seem best to donate for the children still in the orphanage.
Parents who have already completed the adoption process discuss
how to explain adoption to their children and how to teach them
about their Azerbaijani heritage. Some have expressed an interest
in learning Azeri words that would be helpful to know, especially
when they are alone for the first time with their toddlers without
the assistance of translators - like on the plane, returning
to the States. Others seek advice about how best to explain to
friends, families and strangers where Azerbaijan is located -
Europe? Asia? Caucasus? Middle East? Central Asia?
Recently, there was a very insightful discussion on how to handle
the curiosity and sometimes intrusive questions of strangers
in regard to the adoption process itself, such as "Are they
really your children?" and "Do you have any biological
children of your own?" When one family sought practical
advice about problems with bathing their children, many parents
volunteered solutions as they, too, had found their adopted children
to be terrified by tub baths. There has been discussion about
how to distinguish between expected behavior of any growing child
and what may be related to the process of adoption. For example,
some parents felt that their child may have learned to throw
temper tantrums at the orphanage to get the attention of caretakers.
While some wrote that their doctors had suggested ignoring a
child when he was throwing a tantrum, other parents felt that
picking him up and holding him was the best way to build trust.
"These children have gone through enormous life changes
in their short lives. Imagine being taken away from everything
and everyone that is familiar to you. Many of us might be on
an emotional roller coaster and need a little extra hand holding
if we were in the same situation," one parent offered.
The AzerbaijanAdopt ListServ provides a wonderful resource, offering
kind advice, support and comfort for families. Highly recommended:
join the ListServ at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/azerbaijanadopt.
____
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