By Edna Horton/managing editor
Psychological problems are not an excuse for giving back a child.
In September, Torry Hansen adopted 7-year-old Artyom Savelyev from an orphanage in Russia. Earlier this month, Hansen sent the boy back to Russia alone with a note saying he had severe mental issues and she no longer wanted to parent him. Hansen paid a Russian tour guide to take Savelyev back to the orphanage once the plane landed.
Anyone adopting an older child should realize some psychological problems generally come with the child. Children who are in orphanages are not there because their parents were saints. Sometimes the quality of life children have in orphanages is not perfect either.
Hansen said the orphanage lied to her about Savelyev’s mental state because the staff members wanted to get rid of him. This may be true. However, when the boy began to act out, she should have asked for help.
According to news reports about the case, Hansen had sought advice from psychologists, but she did not take him to see one. The family said that Savelyev would act violently when he was denied something he wanted, and they began to fear for their lives when he drew a picture of their house on fire with everyone still inside. Clearly, the boy needed to be seen by a psychiatrist.
It takes a lot of work to raise a child. Parents should do whatever they can to ensure their safety and trust and make them feel loved. Moving from one country to another can be a culture shock for anyone.
Once the decision is made by a family to adopt a child from another country, every effort should be made to make that child feel as if he or she is part of that family. Children act out when they feel unsafe. Hansen should have made Savelyev feel safer.
It is unimaginable that any mother would think it was OK to return a child. We live in America with many resources for children with psychological problems. A used car that breaks down once you get it home or a pair of jeans that does not fit right are reasonable things to return. A child is not.
Just think of how the boy must feel now. He had a family, but they didn’t want him.
