Adoption Lingo

I've always been intrigued by lingo, insider vocabulary. For example, in the restaurant world, they have words like "in the weeds" meaning a waitperson or the kitchen that is overwhelmed and not on top of things. Or "diver" meaning the dishwasher. Every field has it's own lingo, including the adoption world. Here are a few:

- bonding/attachment = the reciprocal connection between parent and child where the child feels safe: this attachment requires knowledge and effort on behalf of parents

- forever parents = adoptive parents

- birth parents = the parents who conceived and bore the child, but for various reasons were unable to raise the child

- timeline = generally refers to the time it takes someone to complete their adoption process from application to getting their child home

- finalization = the process of officially completing the adoption: varies between domestic and international adoption

- gotcha day = the anniversary of a child's adoption: it can be the day you meet, the court date, or the day when the child first gets home

- PI = post institutionalized: any child who has spent time in an orphanage or orphanage-type setting

- foster care = domestic or international care of a child where he/she lives with a family, rather than in an orphanage until placement with a forever family

- FAS = fetal alcohol syndrome: when a child suffers various physical and neurological challenges due to their birth mother drinking alcohol while she was pregnant

- FAE = a less severe form of FAS

- RAD = reactive attachment disorder: the manifestation of early neglect, trauma, or separation that makes it difficult for a child to attach and bond, and includes behaviors such as rages, manipulation, control, lying, and more

- attachment issues = less severe than RAD

- learning differences = due to neurological or emotional issues, some children need assistance in reaching their academic potential through special tutoring, classes, or other accommodations

- dx = diagnosis: some children may be diagnosed with various behavioral, neurological, or emotional issues

- meds = medications: some children may need medications to help them sleep, feel less anxious, control aggression, etc.

- special needs = children requiring additional care and services to address their physical, neurological, emotional, or behavioral issues: many agencies refer to all older adopted child as "special needs"

- artificial twinning = adopting two biologically unrelated children of nearly the same age, at the same time: most often happens in international adoption, some adoption agencies do not permit it due to the stress it places on the family

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