Adoption is a beautiful experience but can cause long term positive and negative mental effects on the child being adopted. Although every child deserves a home, being adopted can cause a child to have low self esteem growing up, while constantly trying to figure out where they fit in and who they want to be. Adopted individuals could feel as if they are violating or hurting their adoptive family by exhibiting a wish to learn more about their biological family. There are time where Teasing and bullying of vulnerable adoptive children may occur at school, where other students mock them in an attempt to make them feel embarrassed of being adopted.
The emotional trauma that carries with them could last a life time if they are not given the right support or even therapy at a young age. They could struggle with things such having trouble developing emotional attachments or even have a feeling of grief or loss due to their biological family. While the negative impacts of adoption on children can be brief, they tend to appear and then fade irregularly across an adoptee’s life, especially around periods of emotional stress. Such kids frequently inquire as to why they were placed for adoption. They could also be curious in what their biological family looks like, how they act, and what they do for a career.
Adopted children can experience lasting mental health problems
https://www.family-institute.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/csi_drustrup_hidden_impact_of_adoption.pdf
I think this was shown a lot in the second part of Leavers when we see how Daniel/Deming struggles to understand where he belongs and what he wants to do with his life. There is also the idea of “wanting to fit in” where Kay and Peter changed Deming’s name to Daniel so he would feel more a part of the family, but in turn, it erased who he was growing up. It made it seem like he should forget his past and his childhood, which showed later to have a negative effect on his mental health.
Is a fact that an adoption may result an emotional trauma to the adapted children . At the second part of the book we see how Daniel struggles to recognize his identity , he doesn’t know where he belongs. Although in this case Daniel wasn’t just a child who was adopted but a child that was thinking ” why has my mother abandoned me ?” . The fact that his mother left when he was so young made the situation even harder for him .
I really enjoyed reading your post and learned a lot about the long-term effects of adoption. This idea that you presented allowed me to see Deming’s situation in a different light. After reading The Leavers, we see that Deming receives a second chance in a new healthy family when he is was adopted. Although this experience was a good thing for him because they had fostered his thoughts and had given him a safe home. Comparing the long-term effects of adoption to this story allows the audience to understand the character’s position in the story and also allows you to connect with the emotions that they are experiencing.
I really enjoyed your post and the insight it gave me on the lasting affects adoption can have on mental heath. I think this is a very important concept to consider when looking at Deming and his character as he develops into Daniel. Though Deming is given a new life as Daniel in a safe environment with several opportunities, he seems stuck and othered by his old life as Deming due to the neglect of his mother. After reading your post, I can make several connections to Daniel and the last effects this adoption and neglect by his mother has had on his life. One thing that stuck out to me the most in your post is when you mention kids wondering why they were put up for adoption. I think this is mot relevant to Deming as to why his mother left him. Overall, I really enjoyed your post and the extra insight it gave me into why Daniel is the way he is later in the novel.
Adoption can be a very tricky thing. People often assume that adoption gives the kid a better life, but that is just a chance, not a guarantee. Adoption can definitely be tough on kids mentally, being stuck with the feeling of being unwanted and more. Of course, it comes with positives, but adopted kids can need more attention and there must be proper education and resources for the entire family.
Like you said, adoption is a wonderful thing and in many cases, gives children who would’ve otherwise struggled immensely, a great life. However, it can also lead to feelings of abandonment from their biological parents or the feeling of not fitting in, both problems that Deming faced. It is important to learn about the adopted child’s background and accept all parts of them to make them feel more comfortable in a family. I think there are things Peter and Kay could’ve done better in The Leavers to make Deming feel more accepted and help him through the obstacles he faced.
Yes it is very tragic that the second a child is put into the adoption system their course of life changes drastically. The guilt they feel about wanting to know about their biological family is eminent and Daniel’s drive to know more about his mother eventually led him back to her.