Mary Louise Parker's New Baby Girl

121. As long as she's adopting for the right reason. I think that's all that matters. What country they are from and the race does not matter. The entire world has kids who are in need. I think the ones that are located outside of the US are those who need the most help. Those who speak about needing to adopt American babies I wonder what do you do to help within the US. I am not talking about donating a dollar at your local McDonald's just because the cashier asks you to. I'm talking about volunteering time at local facilities that help kids who are in need. I know there are some good heart people out there who lend a helping hang in every way that they can. Everyone is quick to bash others for living their lives and making the decisions that they make but I think some people never take the time to step outside of the box and see if they are really doing what they need to do to help out. Another thing the racism Bull$h!t is so old. The world is filled with people of all different colors, shapes and sizes in which all are beautiful in their own ways. Help out when you can and stop criticizing others. Live life.

In no way am I perfect.

Posted at 3:56PM on Sep 23rd 2007 by Star

122. Let me enlighten the ignorant people.

To complete a domestic adoption can run between 20-45 thousand dollars OR MORE. The birth parents can back out (in some states) months after the child has been placed with you and your money will never be seen again. Many american adoptions are "open". OPEN has changed in the last few years to mean that birth mothers can demand access to the child on a yearly or sometimes monthly basis. Drug and alcohol abuse while pregnant is a problem that is far more prevalent in the US and Russia adoptions. The wait can be YEARS long and then the whole thing can fall apart. Leaving your heartsick and broke to the point of halting your whole adoption dream.

International adoption are far more predictable, faster, lass expensive and most importantly "PRIVATE" which is a huge issue when you adopt. Drug and alcohol issues are not as big of a concern. There will be NO birth parents rights issues. You are less likely to lose your money.

Mexico only completes about 100 international adoptions a year because there has been corruption i the past and there is no standardized system. Most mexican adoption involves lawyers and agreements with birth mothers.

Ethiopia (the bulk of African adoption right now) has beautiful (and yes she is BEAUTIFUL) babies that are healthy although often malnourished. They have less institutionalized issues then China (like attachment disorder) because the babies are held and loved a more frequently. Babies in africa are treated like treasure for the most part.

NO ONE goes through a foreign adoption like it is a vending machine.
You have social services come to your home and write reports about you for years.
You pay between 12-35 thousand dollars.
You get FBI fingerprinting
You get local background checks with child services
You prove employment, income, morality and get reference letters.
You get letters from local PD
You have elaborate medical reviews
You get everything notarized, authenticated, translated and then sit and WAIT.
Then once a year you do it all over again if you are not yet "matched" with a baby.
You have NO control over which baby you get. Just like a pregnancy.
Once your baby is home you must be scrutinized by social workers until the foreign government is satisfied.

Celebrities are not exempt from this process.
So until you understand the complexity and level of commitment SHUT YOUR PIE-HOLE!

Posted at 8:52AM on Sep 24th 2007 by shegeek

123. Bravo, Mary Louise Parker!!! Bravo. A child who can, most likely, look forward to a much brighter future than might otherwise have been the case. All those who haven't the guts to do the same will find a way to ridicule her compassion, by saying such idiot phrases as "holding the latest accessory to sweep Hollywood" followed by the unashamed racism of "a Third World baby." This baby is not "Third World." This baby is Mary Louise Parker's baby. And they are both members of a singular race, a singular family of homo sapiens.

Posted at 10:04PM on Sep 24th 2007 by Maceo Eric Culberson

124. RE: 3. i think improving another person's life is a wonderful and beautiful accomplishment. God speed...
Posted at 4:53PM on Sep 20th 2007 by kat

Yes, I agree. That lovely little child is one heck of an improvement to the otherwise obscure life of Mary Louise Parker. Shhhhh, if this get's out, EVERYONE will be wanting one! Do you think I can I get one in mauve or chartreuse? I have these really cool pumps I want to accessorize.

Posted at 11:30AM on Sep 25th 2007 by Shhhhh

125. I have no words for this- it's laughable. I'm tired of seeing these children treated like mascots. Plus, they get all the wealth & privileges that many of our American children (of all ethnicities) don't get.
Keep bringing more of these foreign black & asian babies to American soil & keep trying to kick the Latin/Hispanic ones out! How contradictory!!!

Posted at 9:25PM on Sep 25th 2007 by WTF?!

126. Awwwwwwwww how cute she is

Posted at 11:52AM on Sep 26th 2007 by www.lake-shore.co.uk

127. I am trying to stay calm as I type this so I do not sound as ingnorant as most of you. As an adoptive mother who just returned from Ethiopia with our precious son, I find it ridiculous how you people can judge anyone who chooses to build thier family in whatever way they choose. How many of you KNOW that MLP adopted for publicity? How do you KNOW when she applied to adopt? Or what her motivations are? You actually think that she does not love this little girl? There are plenty of people in this country who are in the process or have adopted from Africa. Just because you happen to know of, oh, 3 of them, does not mean it is a Hollywood trend. It means that EVERYTHING in thier lives is made public. If I were famous, I am sure people would say the same about our family. But I am not, thankfully. Now my husband and I have the honor and the joy of raising our son. But we are raising him in a country where some people will say things that will hurt him, like the things you have said here. How do you think our children will feel when they hear people like you ASSUME that they are in fact, not loved by thier parents, and were only adopted because it was the cool thing to do in 07? I also wonder how many of you have gone through the process of trying to adopt in America. Do your research. It's not about impatience. It is a personal choice, and here in this land of the free, I had hoped we could all make that choice in peace and with a sense of community. I am a citizen of the world. No child deserves more than another simply because of where they were born. I hope at least one person takes me seriously and stops this awful TREND of judging our familes and saying things that will affect our children.
peace.

Posted at 6:31PM on Sep 27th 2007 by Heather

128. Why do so many people believe that only American children should be adopted?? Since when do only AMERICAN babies deserve the right to a family that loves them and food on their tables? Children are Children. Who are we to play God? Who cares if you adopt internationally or within your country, as long as a child is helped. Obviously, those that say such ignorant things know absolutely nothing about adoption and the crisis that faces such countries as those in Africa. I guess its a good thing you happened to be born in the US, otherwise people like you might want to prevent you from having a family. Aren't there better things to critisize than the GOOD that people are doing!

Posted at 9:31PM on Sep 27th 2007 by Kate

129. as a former foster parent of abused special needs kids from the United States and an adoptive mom of 4 children with special needs that were not born in the United States i would like to say that its extremely disrespectful to call any child an accessory. You should be ashamed. Adoption is a life long commitment, not a fad and should be carefully thought out before doing. In a perfect world, no child would have to leave their family of birth....but unfortunately this is not a perfect world. to make light of that fact is sad....really really sad. Lets hope we are all doing all that we can for children here and abroad.

Posted at 3:04AM on Sep 29th 2007 by God made us all