EPILOGUE

Although this issue offers new ideas regarding the psychological and developmental issues for the adoptee, the adoptive parents, and the birth parents, it also raises other questions for further exploration.

Although much has been written about the negative aspects and impact of adoption on all adoption triad members, “the good adoption” has been less studied. Specifically, what factors, conscious and unconscious, make it possible for an adopted child to thrive and be resilient within the context of his or her new family so that all the members of the triad have the opportunity to successfully work through adoption-related issues when they arise?

From the family perspective, several questions need further clarification. First, we need to better understand the contributions of the adoptive father and, in particular, how he enhances the development of the adopted child. Second, how do we understand the complex issues involved for the adoptive family when both adopted and biological children are raised together? Third, what are the effects of adoption on the extended family, that is, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and others? How much and what should they be told about the child's pre-adoption life and experiences? For example, some adopted children are the product of rape, prostitution, or drug addiction. Should this information be communicated? Fourth, what is the best way to understand and deal with adoption issues, in both the adoptee and the adoptive parents, that may be reactivated as the adoptee progresses through developmental and religious/cultural milestones? Fifth, what particular issues does the adopted child face when adoptive parents divorce?

It is known that reunion fantasies, as well as emotions/fantasies associated with reunion itself, are important aspects of an adopted child's narrative. Reunion often brings up fears of abandonment in the adoptive parents, loyalty conflicts for the adoptee, and disappointment in the biological parent(