I would like to have been a fly on the wall when Madonna was told that her plan to adopt a little girl named Mercy was being put on hold.  Apparently, the Malawi courts weren’t willing to bend their adoption laws this time around.

Hooray for the Malawi courts for standong up to Madonna’s star power and enforcing their adoption requirements. It is nice to know that the rules do apply to everyone-even celebrities.

While the Malawi courts used their residency requirements to delay Madonna’s plan there is another factor at work.  Little Mercy has family members who are willing and able to take care of her-in Malawi.  To be sure, Madonna-the Ultimate Material Girl-will be able to provide Mercy with incredible opportunities. But is that enough of a reason to allow the adoption to go through?

Most thinking people would agree that it is best for children to be raised by their biological parents-even if those parents aren’t Madonna-like.  But what happens if the child can’t be raised by his/her biological parents?  Those same thinking people would probably agree that in the event that the child’s biological parents are not available and there are no other family members to care for the child that adoption is a viable and positive option.  But what happens when there are family members ready, willing and able to care for the child but without the benefits of international celebrity and riches?  What, then, is in the ‘best interest’ of the child?

The best option for little Mercy just may be staying with her remaining family in Malawi despite the dramatically different lifestyle she would have.

This concept is quite difficult for us to consider.  We ask ourselves “how could she be better off in an impoverished country when she could have all of the opportunities that Madonna’a lifestyle could provide her with?” 

Frankly, that is just arrogance speaking.  We assume that our way is the right way and that everyone would be better off if they did things our way. 

But our way isn’t always the best way.  We have to remember that for every opportunity that Madonna can provide for Mercy, she also takes important ones away. 

If Mercy leaves Malawi as Madonna’s daughter she loses as much as she gains. And the things she loses can not be replaced by any material girl.

I hope that Mercy stays with her family in Malawi and leads a happy and healthy life-which is just what I want for my daugther.  Isn’t that what you want for your kids!

With Respect,

Deb

This entry was posted on Friday, April 3rd, 2009 at 6:56 am and is filed under adoption, children, community, culture, education, family, international adoption, life, motherhood, motherhood parenting, multiculturalism, parenting. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.