This is a must-see glimpse into international adoption from Ethiopia. The cameras follow an adoption across the world for three or four years; from the perspective of both bio and adoptive parents. It is 90 minutes long and subtitled but worth the watching of it, I promise. It is heart-wrending, absolutely riveting, and speaks to why we will continue to send updates to Ethiopia about the kids.
Goodness gracious, my heart broke watching that film. I started out thinking I'd give it ten minutes of my time. I watched the entire thing and I seldom watch anything that long. I almost wish I would have seen this before reading your blog. So much of what you are striving to do for your children makes sense now. How your heart aches for the family that shared their children with you seems all the more important. I remember reading something you had said once and thinking that you should remember what you've given the family by providing a better home for their children. Now, I'd never think that. What you feel for their first family is what will continue to make your family great. I'll be thinking about this every time that I visit your blog. Thanks so much for sharing and opening the eyes of your readers.
ReplyDeleteThis was the most intense, heart wrenching documentary. It was incredibly difficult to watch and yet so important. It truly illustrates how adoption is loss. We rarely get to see all of the people involved. Praying for all involved. I will never forget this documentary.
ReplyDeleteJanelle, I won't publish your other comment but if you're reading this and feel comfortable, please leave me your email address so that I can connect with you that way (and I would never publish your email address here).
ReplyDeleteRuth
Wow. I'm not sure what to even say. I too sat down thinking that I would watch a few minutes of the film, and ended up watching it in it's entirety. What struck me was that I think so many people have a very Western assumption that internationally adopted kids will have "so many more opportunities" and should be "grateful" to be living in a more developed country. You blogged once about not wanting your kids to feel guilty for not feeling grateful. Watching this film made your post make so much sense, because when losing their first family, those children lost everything they knew. I ached for that little girl and her first family, and for the depth of their loss. As a parent, it must hurt you so much to know that your children and their first family went through a similar situation. I can't imagine. I thought at the end of the film that I was so glad for your understanding of the enormity of your kids' loss, so that you can better help them navigate through it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kristin - I'm so glad you watched it! Yeah, it's this stuff that I have in mind when people tell me/my kids how lucky they are to be in our family or in Canada. It honestly sometimes makes my stomach turn because I just cannot think of it that way knowing what they and their birth father went through.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for watching and commenting!!
Ruth