What kind of weird reflection on the American psyche is the case of a Tennessee adoptive parent who sent her child back to Russia because she felt she could not control the child’s behavior?
Reality check: Parenting is the ULTIMATE responsibility. Even the most perfect children provide some mighty tough challenges. There are, of course, many children with special needs, some of which could involve behavioral issues. Such things don’t make these bad kids, but do require greater effort and more skill on the behalf of the parent.
The bottom line is one’s child, whether natural born or adopted, represents a profound responsibility for which the parent must accept until the child has completed his or her schooling and is ready for living independently which we generally accept as 18 years old in our culture.
With this in mind, the case of parent Torry Ann Hansen in Tennessee is most disturbing and the twists and turns of this case are even more bizarre. The mother, an east Tennessee resident, claims her adopted son, Artyom Savelyev renamed Justin, from Russia had been terrorizing her family since his arrival in the United States. Rather than attempt to work with any social services agency or seek help for the boy, she purchased a one way ticket from Tennessee to Russia and sent the kid all by himself back to Moscow with a note taped on his chest, “I no longer want to parent this child. He is violent and has severe psychopathic issues/behaviors.”
The seven year old boy was sent away with just a backpack with some cookies and a coloring book.
The Russians, outraged at this tragic occurrence, have threatened to end all adoptions between Russia and American parents. While the Russians are understandably upset, this event in no way reflects on the adoptive system in the United States or our government. There’s little anyone could do to stop a woman who executed her sickly plan on her own.
Thus an international episode now has bureaucrats in Washington scrambling to resolve with the State Department fully involved in the issue. While we could comment on the dysfunctional relationship between the United States and Russia and bemoan what a mess the Russian system is, we find this episode a very sick reflection on a mindset that manifests itself on many levels in today’s society. The episode is serious enough that a high level state department has been dispatched to Moscow to resolve.
A child is a human being, not a commodity. Adopting a child is not like ordering the latest book or gizmo from Amazon.com. Anyone seeking to adopt a child must do so with eyes wide open and realize there will be difficult challenges along the way. Children can get sick, get injured, have learning difficulties, or have behavioral issues. Kids don’t come with operating manuals or guarantees.
The arrangements she made for the child upon reaching Russia were transacted on the Internet for $200. Who the heck was she dealing with to receive this poor boy? Could that Russian entity have possibly been a pedophile or some other kind of deviant?
This sick woman had options through state child services and charitable foundations. The kid could have taken care of in any number of humane ways where he would hopefully get some proper attention.
Regardless of what the particular issues are with this kid or what behavioral problems he might exhibit, what Ms. Hansen did is a grotesque example of child endangerment and abuse.
We sincerely hope she will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We fear what is more likely is that she will make the afternoon talk show rounds selling her story while playing the roll of victim.
Torry Ann Hansen represents the worst of the “ME” generation that everything is all about her and that a child is simply an object that can be used a commodity to be transferred about as she sees fit.
The mother claims she was misled by the Russian adopted agency. Oh well, let buyer beware! She had the responsibility to investigate all aspects of the tremendous commitment she was undertaking. There’s no way out for Ms. Hansen. She screwed up and is responsible for her decisions.
One more question… was there a father in the picture? If not, why?
What a horrible slap this is against all those who adopt children responsibly and open their hearts and homes to give a misfortunate child a good life.
No comments:
Post a Comment