Older Child Adoption Lingo

I've always been intrigued by lingo, insider vocabulary. For example, in the restaurant world, they have words like "in theweeds" 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 older child adoption world. Here are a few:

older child = any child over the age of two at adoption (some say over the age of one)

bonding/attachment = the reciprocal connection between parent and child where the child feels safe: this attachment requiresknowledge 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 theirchild 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 firstgets 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 untilplacement with a forever family

FAS = fetal alcohol syndrome: when a child suffers various physical and neurological challenges due to their birth motherdrinking 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 childto attach and bond, and includes behaviors such as rages, manipulation, control, lying, and more

attachment issues = less severe than RAD: many older adopted children have some level of attachment issues that requireassistance from the parents to overcome

learning differences = due to neurological or emotional issues, some older adopted children need assistance in reaching theiracademic potential through special tutoring, classes, or other accommodations

dx = diagnosis: some older adopted 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 behavioralissues: 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 happensin international adoption, some adoption agencies do not permit it due to the stress it places on the family

adjustment period = the initial, often difficult months (sometimes 6 months or more) that it takes for everyone in the family toget to know each other, for the new child(ren) to learn the rules, and more.

positive adoption language = words and phrases that identify adoption as a positive way to create families and establishes asupportive framework for a child who was adopted to discuss her/his background