News in Brief
May 31, 2006
How will Shilo affect the mix?
Families with biological and adopted children may have problems, says Christina Hopkinson
Brad Pitt rides a bike in Langstrand, Namibia, with daughter Zahara strapped to his back (Photo: Us magazine)
When Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt was born in Namibia at the weekend, proud parents Brad and Angelina weren't the only ones waiting to welcome the new arrival.
Shiloh - the couple's first biological child - is sister to four-year-old Maddox and 15-month-old Zahara, both of whom Angelina adopted.
Of course, the Jolie-Pitts are not your average family. Mum and Dad, who regularly top lists of the ''most beautiful man/woman in the world", lead the peripatetic five-star existence of the immensely rich so their children can expect a more exotic upbringing than most.
However, Brad and Angelina will still have to tackle the challenges faced by families comprised of both adopted and biological children. Will Maddox and Zahara feel usurped by the new baby? What problems lie ahead when they are old enough to understand their different origins? And how will they cope with the differences in their physical appearance - Maddox is from Cambodia and Zahara Ethiopia?
''Where adoption is 'inter country' many [adopted children] can feel visibly different from the birth child and from their mother, and perhaps feel less acceptable to the society as a result, according to Felicity Collier, chief executive of the British Association for Adoption and Fostering.
In the past, when more young children were available for adoption and the diagnosis of fertility problems was rudimentary, such ''mixed'' families were common. "History shows many examples of couples who adopt because of unexplained infertility," says Collier. "However, the woman then ends up getting pregnant - possibly because they feel less stressed - shortly after the baby's been placed with them."
This was true for Katie, now in her thirties, whose parents adopted her because they believed they couldn't have children of their own. Her mother then became pregnant with her sister. "I never felt resentful of her or thought that she had a different relationship with our parents,'' says Katie. ''I think my mother genuinely felt that, because of me, she'd ended up with two daughters and that made me feel special."
But not every case has such a happy outcome. Research suggests that some adults adopted as children feel ''cheated'' that their parents had a birth child and experienced a sense of rivalry with younger birth siblings, says Collier.
Today, adopted children tend to be older with special educational and physical needs, which creates a new set of problems in ''mixed'' families, according to Dr Peter McParlin, a child psychologist. "The children come straight from care and so bring attachment and nurturing issues with them. They don't have a securely attached relationship to begin with."
Claire Friday, Adoption UK's support co-ordinator, says that the Jolie model is relatively unusual. "It seems more common for birth children to be joined by adopted children than the other way round."
This was the situation for John. "My mum would tell my sister and me how she and our father met, how they got married, how my sister came along and then the hoops they went through to get me. She would finish with a great flourish of how I was the most wonderful baby. They replayed this story to establish an equality between us."
Talking to any child about a new addition to the family is crucial, says Dr McParlin. Parents should explain that a new baby won't mean there is less love to go around. He recommends that parents and the adopted child make up a scrap-book together, full of photos and memories.
Psychologist Linda Blair has three adopted children. She says such children are more likely to question their biological parents' love than that of their adopted parents. ''I wouldn't make too much of an issue if a biological sibling came along. I'd just go on reminding them that they're 'chosen'. You have to really want a child to adopt them."
Jackie, who gave birth to her daughter five years after adopting a son, was very aware that he might feel displaced. "I made sure that I'd established various rituals, like always going to 'our café' on a Monday, and had special time alone with him after the birth. I must admit that I enjoyed all the 'has she got my nose?' stuff that comes with a biological child, but it's never made a difference to how much I love them."
No doubt Brad and Angelina will feel exactly the same.
17 killed as bus plunges in ravine
ADDIS ABABA - At least 17 people were killed and 36 injured when a passenger bus plunged into a deep ravine in northern Ethiopia after skidding off a muddy rural road, police said on Wednesday.
The vehicle, which was carrying 63 passengers, swerved off the road running from the towns of Essie to Baherder at Kelto, about 520km northeast of the capital in Amhara region, late on Tuesday, they said.
Most of the dead were killed instantly when bus plunged into a 150m deep ravine and into a dry river bed adjacent to the road, the area's deputy police inspector Ayalew Yimama said.
"Even though mud and heavy rains in the area could have caused the accident, we are still investigating," he told AFP, adding that the injured were being treated in nearby hospitals.
Accidents are common the impoverished Horn of Africa nation where authorities recently tightened traffic laws in a bid to stem growing numbers of road fatalities.
Under new legislation that came into effect last week, motorists can be fined if caught chewing narcotic leaves, drinking and using cellular phones while driving.
Those convicted of hitting and killing pedestrians are liable to a jail term of 15 years. (AFP)
"Deport me to Ethiopia!"
KANSAS CITY - A homeless Ethiopian man has been charged with disabling a Kansas City traffic signal and causing an accident that severely injured a pedestrian.
Jackson County prosecutors announced charges Monday of second-degree assault and tampering with a utility service against Berhanu T. Berhanu, 39.
According to court records:
On May 20, Berhanu came out of a homeless shelter yelling, “I’m going to kill a lot of Americans.” He disconnected the power box for the traffic signal at 10th Street and Troost Avenue.
As he returned, he said, “Now you will see somebody die.”
Within minutes, two cars collided. One car then hit a pedestrian, pinning him to a wall. The accident broke both of his lower legs and injured both ankles. It could take him months to learn to walk again.
Interviewed days after the accident, Berhanu told police he wanted to be deported to Ethiopia.
(Source: The Kansas City Star)
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How will Shilo affect the mix?
Families with biological and adopted children may have problems, says Christina Hopkinson
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| Brad Pitt rides a bike in Langstrand, Namibia, with daughter Zahara strapped to his back (Photo: Us magazine) |
Shiloh - the couple's first biological child - is sister to four-year-old Maddox and 15-month-old Zahara, both of whom Angelina adopted.
Of course, the Jolie-Pitts are not your average family. Mum and Dad, who regularly top lists of the ''most beautiful man/woman in the world", lead the peripatetic five-star existence of the immensely rich so their children can expect a more exotic upbringing than most.
''Where adoption is 'inter country' many [adopted children] can feel visibly different from the birth child and from their mother, and perhaps feel less acceptable to the society as a result, according to Felicity Collier, chief executive of the British Association for Adoption and Fostering.
In the past, when more young children were available for adoption and the diagnosis of fertility problems was rudimentary, such ''mixed'' families were common. "History shows many examples of couples who adopt because of unexplained infertility," says Collier. "However, the woman then ends up getting pregnant - possibly because they feel less stressed - shortly after the baby's been placed with them."
This was true for Katie, now in her thirties, whose parents adopted her because they believed they couldn't have children of their own. Her mother then became pregnant with her sister. "I never felt resentful of her or thought that she had a different relationship with our parents,'' says Katie. ''I think my mother genuinely felt that, because of me, she'd ended up with two daughters and that made me feel special."
But not every case has such a happy outcome. Research suggests that some adults adopted as children feel ''cheated'' that their parents had a birth child and experienced a sense of rivalry with younger birth siblings, says Collier.
Today, adopted children tend to be older with special educational and physical needs, which creates a new set of problems in ''mixed'' families, according to Dr Peter McParlin, a child psychologist. "The children come straight from care and so bring attachment and nurturing issues with them. They don't have a securely attached relationship to begin with."
Claire Friday, Adoption UK's support co-ordinator, says that the Jolie model is relatively unusual. "It seems more common for birth children to be joined by adopted children than the other way round."
This was the situation for John. "My mum would tell my sister and me how she and our father met, how they got married, how my sister came along and then the hoops they went through to get me. She would finish with a great flourish of how I was the most wonderful baby. They replayed this story to establish an equality between us."
Talking to any child about a new addition to the family is crucial, says Dr McParlin. Parents should explain that a new baby won't mean there is less love to go around. He recommends that parents and the adopted child make up a scrap-book together, full of photos and memories.
Psychologist Linda Blair has three adopted children. She says such children are more likely to question their biological parents' love than that of their adopted parents. ''I wouldn't make too much of an issue if a biological sibling came along. I'd just go on reminding them that they're 'chosen'. You have to really want a child to adopt them."
Jackie, who gave birth to her daughter five years after adopting a son, was very aware that he might feel displaced. "I made sure that I'd established various rituals, like always going to 'our café' on a Monday, and had special time alone with him after the birth. I must admit that I enjoyed all the 'has she got my nose?' stuff that comes with a biological child, but it's never made a difference to how much I love them."
No doubt Brad and Angelina will feel exactly the same.
17 killed as bus plunges in ravine
ADDIS ABABA - At least 17 people were killed and 36 injured when a passenger bus plunged into a deep ravine in northern Ethiopia after skidding off a muddy rural road, police said on Wednesday.
The vehicle, which was carrying 63 passengers, swerved off the road running from the towns of Essie to Baherder at Kelto, about 520km northeast of the capital in Amhara region, late on Tuesday, they said.
Most of the dead were killed instantly when bus plunged into a 150m deep ravine and into a dry river bed adjacent to the road, the area's deputy police inspector Ayalew Yimama said.
"Even though mud and heavy rains in the area could have caused the accident, we are still investigating," he told AFP, adding that the injured were being treated in nearby hospitals.
Accidents are common the impoverished Horn of Africa nation where authorities recently tightened traffic laws in a bid to stem growing numbers of road fatalities.
Under new legislation that came into effect last week, motorists can be fined if caught chewing narcotic leaves, drinking and using cellular phones while driving.
Those convicted of hitting and killing pedestrians are liable to a jail term of 15 years. (AFP)
"Deport me to Ethiopia!"
KANSAS CITY - A homeless Ethiopian man has been charged with disabling a Kansas City traffic signal and causing an accident that severely injured a pedestrian.
Jackson County prosecutors announced charges Monday of second-degree assault and tampering with a utility service against Berhanu T. Berhanu, 39.
According to court records:
On May 20, Berhanu came out of a homeless shelter yelling, “I’m going to kill a lot of Americans.” He disconnected the power box for the traffic signal at 10th Street and Troost Avenue.
As he returned, he said, “Now you will see somebody die.”
Within minutes, two cars collided. One car then hit a pedestrian, pinning him to a wall. The accident broke both of his lower legs and injured both ankles. It could take him months to learn to walk again.
Interviewed days after the accident, Berhanu told police he wanted to be deported to Ethiopia.
(Source: The Kansas City Star)
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© COPYRIGHT 20001-2006ETHIOMEDIA.COM. EMAIL: webmaster@ethiomedia.com
