Quiet but volatile

Quiet but volatile is how I would describe the current mood among China PAPs. The adoption rumour mill is relatively quiet at the moment--almost eerily so. Unfortunately, as the silence grows deeper, the emotions of APs and PAPs seem to rise to the surface.

Waiting for adoption news is a grueling process that only those who have experienced or are experiencing it can fully understand, especially when the wait is of indeterminate length. Living arrangements, employment status, savings balances, physical and mental health... each issue is assessed and reported to the authorities in China who assess PAPs for suitability to adopt. A change to any of these issues represents is a potential threat to a PAP's ability to adopt. When the wait was below 12 months the threat of change was minimal. With the wait not far off crossing the 36-month threshold, many PAPs are finding themselves obsessing over the possibility of change, which is hardly an emotionally healthy way to live.

The tragic events of the past month have led to a massive outpouring of grief and mourning for those affected. Anxiety about anticipated changes to the process caused by the Olympics, combined with this grief and mourning and negative emotions due to the uncertainty of the adoption process has led to a volatile atmosphere on some of the China adoption message boards. My wish for the people of China is for an end to aftershocks, pain and damage. My wish for PAPs is that as a community we will unite and help one another through these difficult times and not allow emotions to prevail.