How the media encouarges separation of mother and child

The cover story of New York magazine last week was titled: "Is She Just too Old for This?" and showed a freakish and obviously photo-shopped picture of a very pregnant woman in her, hmmm...late sixties. The story eventually went on to say that old motherhood is great and as long as it's possible, go for it, if that is what you want. There are a lot of bothersome issues about having kids at an age that they will be taking care of senile parents while they are in college or right after, but that's not what caught my attention. Here's one issue that did:

"Among women over 40, birth rates have increased. Among women ages 45 to 49, they've risen 17 percent....Women over 45 who want to carry their own babies most often use donor eggs...."

A Fairy Tale Ending in Vietnam

Just a short and happy note today...to send you to a remarkable reunion story about a child stolen in Vietnam and the reunion many years later. As Jane wrote yesterday, the pressure to have more adoptable babies leads to all sorts of corruption and abuse. Children are stolen, kidnapped, bought and sold like sacks of wheat. Because all adoptions are glorified, we have people perfectly capable of having children thinking they will adopt some day.

Our blood runs cold.

If only those who would adopt would seek their children among the older children in this country who really need parents.

If only those who are trying to adopt and then are approved, only to find that they will soon have a child of their own, would then not adopt and at least let the child go to a family without children.

If only the state would provide more aid to single mothers and not act as if adoption is the only good answer.

If only taking a child from his mother did not result in such lifelong heartache.
--lorraine