A:
Based on the research available, all PI children,
even those adopted as infants, will come home with some degree
of attachment issues. According to contemporary understanding
of this issue, attachment is formed when the primary caretaker
(the person meeting the child's needs) responds in an effective
and timely manner to the baby's needs. When there is a break in
the relationship with the primary caregiver, this can lead to
attachment difficulties. Because of the nature of any orphanage,
our children's needs are being met by multiple caregivers according
to a schedule rather than when the child actually needs it. Our
children are not given the opportunity to complete the Cycle of
Need successfully or to form a healthy relationship with a primary
caregiver. Therefore, theoretically none of IA PI child come home
on the secure end of the attachment continuum. Moreover, adoptive
parents are strangers to their children and when they come home
there may be an initial bond, but true attachment is something
that forms over months and years... not in the matter of a few
weeks. Actually, it would be a miracle if any IA children were
totally, completely attached to adoptive parents when they come
home or even within the first two or three months! There are things
adoptive parents can do to help move them to the more secure end
and to make that process quicker.
