Abstract
This article is part of a broader research on the parent-child bond in late adoption. The authors interviewed ten independent subjects - three men and seven women, who adopted children older than two years - and assessed the results using the content analysis method. The purpose of this study was to investigate the experience of the adaptation period in late adoption, and the repercussions of the previous child history the construction of the parent-child bond. Among the main challenges reported during this period, the authors highlight the aggressive behavior of the child; trouble dealing with rules and authority; lack of legal security; school delays; and problems adapting to family routine, all of which seem to be related to the previous experiences of the child. The way in which parents embraced hardships, bridging past and present in order to rebuild the lost family environment, was reported as having critical importance in the construction and maintenance of the parent-child bond.
Keywords:
Late adoption; bond; parenting