Let's raise a toast to the kids!

There have been some fabulous documentaries on Channel 4 the last few weeks. They were called "Find me a Family" and have followed the journeys of a number of potential adopters. An adoption campaigner, David Akansanya, has been persuading potential adopters to consider some of the more difficult to place children. Although it's been a bit obviously edited for TV and for the "Aah" factor, it's been really interesting.

The frustrating bit is the clips of kids waiting to be adopted. I have to shout at the telly.
"Chantelle, Mary and John are waiting because they can't find a family who are willing to adopt all three of them together."
"WE WILL! WE WILL! CHOOSE US!"
"David and John are 5 and 3. No one will adopt them together so they have been waiting for 2 years."
"WHAT A COINCIDENCE. SO HAVE WE."

The inspiring thing is the kids.

The one I watched today followed a gay couple who keep horses and dogs. They were questioned by a panel of teenagers who have been adopted. The kids were brilliant! Although they asked questions about how they would support a child if the 'having two dads' thing became an issue amongst their peers, none of them were concerned about the gay issue at all. "It wouldn't bother me. So long as you're kind. And you both seem very nice," was the unanimous verdict. But they were searingly insightful about the fact that here was a couple who hadn't really considered how a child would fit into their very busy lives (they were much more realistic by the end). "They've got a very fixed idea about what the child needs to be like. They need to broaden their thinking," was the consensus, "because we can be difficult because of the stuff we've been through." They should have adopted kids on adoption panels for sure. In fact, why don't they?

The social worker kept asking what they would do if they were matched with a child who didn't like horses. Give me strength! I'd have said "Well don't match us with a child that doesn't like horses. Match us with one that likes animals. Match us with someone for whom being with horses will be therapeutic."

They also went to visit a young lad who was adopted age nine and has been with his parents for 2 years. He was able to talk really coherently about how it had taken time to build up trust in his parents and the difficulties he had controlling his anger to begin with. I know adults who couldn't speak as insightfully about their experiences and feelings as this lad.

Here's to the kids!