Being raised by relatives is common for many Jamaicans. It has formed the foundations of countless childhoods. The standard term for ‘mother’ or ‘father’, is replaced by grandmothers, aunts and uncles, reflecting how the role and terminology for parents have evolved falling on a relative or a friend.
This practice, of informal adoption, has become almost systematic in the Jamaican culture. The practice is not new and seems more widely accepted and less stigmatised than going through the formal process of adoption.
However, despite there being many cases of informal adoption or guardianship, there is still a lot unknown and often misunderstood about formal adoptions, short term and long term effects and the stigma of being the ‘adopted child’.
The aim of this feature, is to reveal that there are two people affected in the process and to share their stories and experiences. For the purposes of maintaining the privacy of those involved and their families, pseudonyms will be used in telling their story and where possible gender neutralisation will be maintained.
“Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother”– Oprah Winfrey, a sentiment that was repeatedly reinforced throughout this interview with Mrs. X, a mother of two, one of whom was adopted and the other her biological child.
Having been something Mrs. X was exposed to from a very young age, through relatives; adoption was something that felt normal for her and something she had always planned to do. Fortunately, it was an idea that was supported by her husband and easily sold to her biological child. Although the family initially wanted an infant, which would have seemingly posed less challenges during the transition process, they found that trying to get a baby was much harder and more difficult than adopting an older child. Not deterred by the length of time and seemingly tedious route of going through the Child Development Agency, the family eventually became foster parents to a toddler and after a few months, decided to adopt.
To continue reading , purchase Vol. 7 #10 2015 issue
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Being raised by relatives is common for many Jamaicans. It has formed the foundations of countless childhoods. The standard term for ‘mother’ or ‘father’, is replaced by grandmothers, aunts and uncles, reflecting how the role and terminology for parents have evolved falling on a relative or a friend.
This practice, of informal adoption, has become almost systematic in the Jamaican culture. The practice is not new and seems more widely accepted and less stigmatised than going through the formal process of adoption.
However, despite there being many cases of informal adoption or guardianship, there is still a lot unknown and often misunderstood about formal adoptions, short term and long term effects and the stigma of being the ‘adopted child’.
The aim of this feature, is to reveal that there are two people affected in the process and to share their stories and experiences. For the purposes of maintaining the privacy of those involved and their families, pseudonyms will be used in telling their story and where possible gender neutralisation will be maintained.
“Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother”– Oprah Winfrey, a sentiment that was repeatedly reinforced throughout this interview with Mrs. X, a mother of two, one of whom was adopted and the other her biological child.
Having been something Mrs. X was exposed to from a very young age, through relatives; adoption was something that felt normal for her and something she had always planned to do. Fortunately, it was an idea that was supported by her husband and easily sold to her biological child. Although the family initially wanted an infant, which would have seemingly posed less challenges during the transition process, they found that trying to get a baby was much harder and more difficult than adopting an older child. Not deterred by the length of time and seemingly tedious route of going through the Child Development Agency, the family eventually became foster parents to a toddler and after a few months, decided to adopt.
To continue reading , purchase Vol. 7 #10 2015 issue
Share this post: