Kids of any age struggle to adjust after international adoption

Adding to your family through international adoption can be one of the most fulfilling and joyful experiences in a parent’s life. This is not to say it is easy. In fact, there are a number of challenges that come with not only becoming parents but with becoming parents of a child from another country.

As noted in this article on parenting.com, there are some challenges unique to international adoption that parents all across Florida may be facing at this very moment no matter how old their child is.

All babies cry, require constant attention and can have problems with eating, sleeping and staying healthy. However, parents of adopted babies can find it especially difficult to know how to address these issues because they may not know everything about the baby’s first days, genetics and potential health problems. Being patient, responding to a baby’s needs and finding a suitable pediatrician can be crucial elements of building a bond and protecting a baby’s well-being.

Toddlers can struggle to adjust to new expectations when adopted. In some cases, young kids can be so used to sharing rooms, being hungry and having little or no supervision that they have difficulty knowing what to expect. Addressing a child’s feelings of confusion and fear is essential.

Older children can find it difficult to learn a new language, adjust to a different culture and form meaningful attachments to adoptive parents and others. They may have struggled with sexual or physical abuse, poverty and other extreme situations from which they can never fully recover. Counseling, emotional support and providing a stable living environment can be of great benefit to older adopted children.

These are just a few of the challenges that come with international adoption; there are also legal complications that can arise. While it may be overwhelmingly complex to handle the issues we have discussed in this post, addressing the legal aspects of an adoption can be made considerably easier by having the help and guidance of an attorney.