Dual Adoption

You will not find any scientific data or studies in this post.

It is purely my opinion based from our experience.

Which after doing 3 dual adoptions we definitely have experience!

And now we are doing it again!

Yay God!

Our first dual adoption were bio sibs- so I'm not sure if that officially counts as dual BUT there were two kids coming home!

Many families feel so comfortable bringing home one child. 

That is wonderful!

And that is right for them.

I would never want to say otherwise.

We just need to all work together to get families for the orphans!

whether it is one at time, two at a time or sibling groups!

BUT

for us, 

bringing home two at a time has been awesome!

We were so excited about bringing home sisters and thought is was such a perfect situation.

We are thankful the girls were not split up but at the same time it brought challenges that surprised us.

Emma and Ellie had their "roles", their expectations of each other and their baggage.  Instead of starting fresh and being able to redefine themselves in their new family they came with preconceived ideas of each other.

Their own little hierarchy.

Emma gave Ellie her food whenever Ellie wanted it, even though Emma was starving and Ellie was plump.

Emma protected her sister but Ellie did not protect Emma.

Emma was a lower class citizen, she was not just an orphan she was a mentally retarded orphan and she had no worth. The sad thing is even her sister who loved her more than anyone else also saw her this way.

Ellie was also cognitively disabled, speech disabled and most likely suffered at the hands of others also.

But in her life their was one person lower than her,

her sister Emma.

When we met them we were shocked. I expected to see two girls close together, talking between themselves and sticking together through thick and thin.

Instead we saw them practically run over each other trying to be the first to get love, acceptance and attention. It was heart breaking. 

Ellie wanted to be labeled the good child therefor Emma was expected to have the label of the bad child.

During much of our time in China they strived to fulfill their self given roles.

It was a very challenging time.

Because of their speech and cognitive disabilities they did not converse between each other at all.

Once we got home we had to undo all of this in order to redo healthy, happy, valued and equal roles within the new family.

There was no loyalty, no camaraderie, no consideration for the other- it was every man for himself.

Since that is not the way our large family works we needed to show them that we can love and accept both of them not one or the other. 

Once home Ellie was surprised to see that we were kind, loving and positive towards Emma. Ellie didn't know what to do about it and I think she was a bit threatened.

The girls would have fights in the closet. Ellie would be hitting Emma and Emma would be struggling verbally to defend herself.

If Ellie was having a bad day she would secretly take it out on Emma.

Ellie was NOT a bad kid. She just didn't know how to cope with the changing roles and dynamics around her.

(the girls don't fight like this now)

At the same time Ellie saw that she could trust us because we were nice to the one person that no one else has ever been nice too- Emma.

Quickly they could see that this was a good place to be.

So here were two children that knew each other and we being adopted together. It worked but it was challenging. 

They did have an underlying love for each other, a familiarity with each other- a comfort level because they were bio sibs.

We have never adopted 2 children from the same orphanage that already knew each other but were NOT related. I have heard of others that have and they have had their challenges.

In that situation the two children would not have a previous love towards each other. They would enter a family knowing of each other but never considering each other as family.

In one case a family brought home the bully and the victim. They had no way of knowing the orphanage dynamics before bringing the children home.

Is this bad?

No, but it makes for greater challenges.

I believe that anything can be overcome through prayer, love, hard work and more prayer.

Here is my thoughts on adopting two children from the same orphanage-

If the children are in the same orphanage and not sibs they do not have an underlying love for one another.

They have never loved this person before and now they are expected to love them?

They have a hierarchy where one is higher than the other. They live in a world of survival not love. These roles are with them and if they bring part of their past with them they do not leave other parts easily.They will take this to their new family and they will expect it to be this way in their new family.

Of course I think they can relearn new behavior and new family rules just like our children have, but it is challenging and takes time.

Some families are blessed to adopt friends or children that had a special loving relationship within the orphanage or foster home!

I would love to hear others who have had this experience!

Now onto adopting two children from different orphans-

WE LOVE IT!

We are amazed each time... that would be twice.

We will let you know if we are amazed again because our two children coming home this time are also from different orphanages.

The positives-

They come to us without preconceived notions regarding the other child. (Such as they are stupid, the stink due to incontinence, they can't- walk-club foot, they were in the bad room of the orphanage, nobody like them, etc)

They come to us without their spot in the hierarchy of the orphanage. They are not the lowest or the highest still trying to fulfill their old role.

They come wanting to be loved and to be part of a family without needing to step on someone else to get there. 

It's the fresh start the deserve!

They know that the other child is just as scared as they are but they also know they are not alone in this journey. There is another child with them that speaks their language and looks more like them than their new parents.

The language of play and laughter help them to adjust.

We play and laugh with them BUT we are not 5 or 7 or 11 years old so they immediately start to form a bond with the new sib.

This journey is so so scary- everything is changing in their lives and they are not the only one going through it- their new sib is too. 

This other person speaks the same language as they do- unlike their new parents. It's an instant bond.

And yes, they begin to bond to their new sib before bonding to us. 

But their new sib does not have the food, the money, the clothes, they do not protect them or provide for them like their new parent does, so they begin to bond to us too.

We always make sure that all food, gifts and clothes come from either Mom or Dad. 

All child cares are done by us for bonding until they can or want to do them themselves.

They see the other child accepting us so they do too. If at first one child pulls away and doesn't want to be close to us the other one sees the opportunity for love and acceptance so they seize the moment of opportuntiy. The next one comes around soon after!

There is less time for them to be frightened and to dwell on their fears and their preferences. Instead they are experiencing their new life with less fear and apprehension.

Old stereotypes are no longer with them. It no longer matters who or who did not like them in the orphanage. They start to get positive feedback, they like it and they want more!

Do they bicker - yes they do. In fact they will give it to one another in Chinese- it's pretty funny!

Do they compete - yes they do, a little but we watch it closely. I also don't mind if they compete a little to be "good"or to obey.

Are they jealous of each other? I have seen moments of this (the evil eye being given) but they seem to get over it quickly.

The negatives of dual adoption-

It is more expensive. Two orphanage fees, two agency adoption fees and extra plane ticket home, etc

It's an inconvenience- more suitcases, more backpacks, more prep at home, etc

It's emotionally draining (as all adoptions are whether it goes smoothly or their are bumps in the road) but now their are two children's needs that have to be fulfilled.

Your stay in China will be longer. You may have to go to 2 different provinces to meet your children before going on to GZ. You are away from your family at home for a longer period of time.

My own biased is this...

Why can't we help one more child

and then one more turns into

one more and so on!

We feel called by God to bring the children home and will do so until we hear or see God redirect us differently. Until He says we are done, until doors close and He shows us another way to serve HIM.

Does it matter of there are 3 or 4 children in the bedroom?

Does it matter if we have to squish together at the kitchen counter just a little bit more, or share bikes, or share clothes, or take turns with toys, so one more child can have a family?

God is not asking much from us. He is just asking that we care for his children. We can do that!

Bringing home two just feels so right, so natural to us!

It doesn't mean others have too. It just works for us.

Blessings on your journey whether it is for one, for two or for more!

Praise God!!

(Pics are from the children playing outside after a rain and Sarah going to horse day camp!)