New Unofficial Law

There has been a "rumor" running around the Krasnoyarsk yahoo group that Krasnoyarsk is taking advantage of the adoption chaos right now and no longer allowing single parent adoptions as well as putting in new age restrictions on adoptive parents. It was reported that the new age restrictions are under 40 to get a child under 2 years of age, 41-44 to be referred a child 2-3 years, and 45+ to be referred at child 4 years. Clearly, we don't qualify for the under 2 children and that's contrary to what our home study states as well. I contacted our agency, and it was confirmed that the "rumor" is really a new unofficial law, but it only affects new families who haven't submitted their dossiers, so we are "safe!" This is apparently for Krasnoyarsk region only, but others may follow suit. That will be a source of frustration, I'm sure, for a lot of "older" parents wanting to adopt an infant. Because of our age and the age of the child we want, a lot of countries were "out of the running" so to speak. The fact that Russia welcomed older parents was a big factor in us choosing that country. Hopefully, these tight age restrictions will be limited to this region only, or better yet, the region will think twice an lift the new age limits. Younger doesn't mean better--more energy maybe, but not better and certainly not wiser! OK, I'll admit it: My kids have eaten high fructose corn syrup, and we probably have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches more than we should, and yes, I have been also known on occasion to feed my girls Chef Boyardee, but in my last 10 years I have also learned that broccoli doesn't have to be drowned in cheese sauce to be edible and fresh asparagus isn't even a close cousin to the stuff from a can, and all that translates to my girls growing up eating a plethora of vegetables instead of just canned green beans and corn. (How's that for a plug for us "mature" moms and dads?)

Apparently Parliament struck down a motion to end Russian adoptions for Americans last week since the US is obviously open to sign some sort of agreement. Yeah! Adoptions are still progressing, and I am so praying that those of you waiting to hear back for a court date will get one soon!