[adoptionblessings]

News Clip from Laura Christenson's adoption blog and my response follows:
Brad Pitt Hopes to Adopt Angelina Jolie’s Children

Brad Pitt filed a petition in Los Angeles County to adopt Angelina Jolie’s two (adopted) children, Maddox, 4 and Zahara, 11 months. Once the legal papers are signed, the children’s names will be Maddox Jolie-Pitt and Zahara Jolie-Pitt.

It’s unusual for Pitt to adopt Jolie’s children outside of marriage. The logical route would be for the couple to marry and for Pitt to do a step-parent adoption, which would cost him $775. Instead, Pitt will go through the same process as every other prospective adoptive parent. He’ll fill out reams of paperwork, complete the adoption home-study and pay a $2,950 home study fee.

I doubt that the fees will be a problem – Pitt earns $10 to $30 million per film (and if he needs financial assistance, Jolie can provide it – she commands $10 to $15 million per film).

The real question is, will he pass the scrutiny of the social worker who handles his home study? The 41-year-old star has already gone through one high-profile divorce from Jennifer Aniston. He and Jolie are (so far) not showing any signs that they intend to marry. And, should they marry, we all know what kind of track record Hollywood marriages have. But given his star status, I suspect Pitt will pass the home study with flying colors.
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Jody Moreen's response: I read these headlines on the cover of People magazine in December 2005 and it makes me wonder how progressive our adoption system really is! As an adoptee who grew up in a wonderful stable Christian family- to parents who were committed and married for over 60 years, I shutter to imagine Jolie and Pitts partnership will come even close to the foundation I was blessed to begin with. To think that money would rule in anyone's adoption qualifications- over ones personal qualities, virtues and stability when it comes to personal relationships and committments. Also there is no permanent committment in the relationship or promise of marriage for Jolie and Pitt, so how is that a stable home environment?(And as stated in the new clip- Hollywood marriages have a bad track record) And seeing that Pitt took off from his young marriage to Jennifer Aniston because he "fell out of love"! Will the same happen when He faces the hard realities of parenting, diapers, colicky babies,sleepless nights and changing plans when children are sick or needing care, or when Jolie can not give him her undivided attention when the babies need her mothering.(Will he be grown up enough to share the spotlight and attention with these children?) And who will watch these little ones when they both take off to make more big movies away from home?? My take is that Pitt lacks the emotional maturity and stability to be given the privilege to parent these precious children.(Who is advocating for them and what they need as children who deserve a loving and committed and stable foundation?)
My adoptive father was a "10" when it came to fathering and stability and putting his children above his own needs. He did not have fortune, fame, handsome looks or rave reviews from the media- but He and my mom were tops where it mattered most in parenting- Love, Care,Stability, Selflessness and raising me to love and honor God with my whole life. May God be with these children and protect them on what may likely turn out to be a rocky journey in their homelife.

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Jody Moreen, Editor Adoption Blessings Newsletter
Blessed by adoption to be a blessing!

[irishgal63]

I think it was wrong for Brad Pitt to end his (way too) short marriage to
Jennifer Anniston, B U T, it appears Jenn has moved on( I saw 'People'
magazine & Oprah---I saw Jenn's pain ), I don't feel comfortable
making any judgements about Brad or Angelina---I 've never seen them
behind closed doors---what they might be like as parents TO ANY KIDS !

[shoshanna]

I really don't think that two unrelated, unmarried people should be allowed to adopt children together. Especially people who are in such a young relationship and don't have a good track record with relationships to begin with. What will happen if Jolie and Pitt break up?

[pattiewrites]

I agree completely. The first child was adopted with Billy Bob Thornton, who now rarely ever sees the boy. If Brad and Angelina break up, this could happen again and the poor little boy will have lost two daddies. It seems too fast to jump into such a huge decision. The reprecussions on the kids could be damaging.

[HappyMomAnna]

Personally I agree with the posters who feel this is too soon and that the situation is unusual but the reality and truth is children need parents and families no matter how they are put together.
I feel it would be tragic to allow Brad to adopt and later to have the family fall apart and in Hollywood that is more the norm then not.
There is no way to even estimate how many children live life without even one loving and permanent parent in the World but we do know there are at least 120,000 children waiting in the United State foster care system for someone to adopt them. The world is not going to run out of children who need at least one parent who will love them unconditionally like a parent loves a child.
Today, the need to give children a loving home and a parent causes many to pause and consider the enormous need for even one person willing and able to adopt. Single parent adoption are not rare any more and while most of us would agree it is "Better" for children to have two loving parents if the option is one parent then that is better then none.
I am not crazy about the unstable relationship and the fact that they are not married. I am also interested to see if the adoption is actually granted. I am not thrilled with the situation for the child but I do hope the story in itself is responsible for at least some heightened awareness about adoption issues in general.

[adoptionblessings]

I too do not know these "Hollywood" icons personally and cannot judge them for they may show love and care to these little ones. That is true of all of us if we were famous we would not want to be judged just on the way the media portrays us. I am not in a position to say that they would fail. What irks me is that money speaks and it says they likely would get a "speedy" approval. Just does not sit right with me as an adoptee, knowing how precious children are. Yes children need homes and better to have a family in many respects, and a loving single parent, but sadly we live in a imperfect world and the "system" and that will not change- this is earth- not heaven!
Thanks for all sharing your perspectives and insights on this topic.
Blessings, Jody

[MJ7]

Well, I'm certainly far from perfect and want to put my judgmental 2 cents in here. I think this is all a publicity stunt, in my less than humble opinion! What does Brad really think he's doing? I mean common, if he really cares for these kids and wants to be a role model then that's one thing but if he isn't going to marry this mother, what business does he have adopting them?! He doesn't have the best track record for relationships and honoring commitments based on what we the people have seen courtesy of our TVs and magazines. What if Angelina should marry someone one day? Should that husband not have a right to adopt her children because Mr. Pitt stepped up? Being a dad is so much more than a piece of paper or genetics stating such. It is a role that should be honorable. If he wants to play daddy I really think he ought to think about these kids' mother--whom I have my concerns about too. He ought to concider what is proper to portray as a father (I'm talking about setting a good example of marrige, relationships etc..). I mean it's bad enough when people are divorced or had kids outside of marrige and bounce the kids around, it's another thing to plan it this way...unless they're planning on shacking up ? I don't know, ya all, this is a serious situation/commitment being contemplated. It doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense to me on why this is even being concidered and I'm sure there are more details that haven't been presented.
Blessings and Merry Christmas All!
MJ

[babydawn]

I think what everyone is failing to remember is that celebrities are people. I would imagine that they have feelings and wants and desires just like the rest of us. I try really hard to NOT believe everything I hear or see. It is virtually impossible to not know what is going on in instances such as these just by standing in line at the grocery store, headlines are everywhere. But I think that children need a father and a mother in their lives. Ultimately, I believe that those people need to be married, but in reality, that is not the way it is in the US. I watched a biography on Angelina Jolie once and was impressed with what I saw. People have a hard time looking past her past. It was excentric and she did things that were considered very strange. She tends to NOT go with the crowd. She spends so much time working for people who are doing without. She WANTS to give these kids a good life with everything, and according to this biography, which included interviews with her, she did not adopt her son with Billy Bob, she did it alone. Now wether or not that is true, I don't know, you just don't know from what you hear and see on TV. It is so biased and often it tries to point out the negative, and fails to accentuate the postive. It isn't our place to judge and is really none of our business.

[MJ7]

I get what you're saying babydawn--really, but keep in mind these people have chosen to be in the spotlight. I am not trying to judge in a condeming way but in a diserning way--even though it might come out as condeming since I disagree with the situation based on what I've heard thus far. And I know they are no more perfect than any of us. I would have these same concerns and feelings though if it were anyone. Maybe it's too much Dr. Laura as far as my ultra concervative belief lies here ? Why is it though an adoption needs to take place though by Brad at this time? I liken the adoption to a marrige in a sense--but more so. It's life long. I just hope they aren't just driven by warm fuzzy feelings about the sound of doing this, but really are looking at the children's NEEDS and what will lie in the best interest for THIER future. One of the worst things I could see happening is that Brad and Angelina go their seperate ways and the kids are the ones that lose out. Or if Angelina should marry one day and that man who takes the active father role in the house doesn't have a chance to adopt if they wish for that to happen. No, it's not our business, but Hollywood really knows how to make it everyone's business .

MJ

[babydawn]

Originally Posted by MJ7

I get what you're saying babydawn--really, but keep in mind these people have chosen to be in the spotlight.

True, to a degree. I however, do not think that ANYONE, regardless of profession, should have their personal lives splattered around in the tabloids like entertainment. I know that the celebrity profession brings about a lot of ones life being in the spotlight, I just happen to feel that it is wrong. I think that our society is WAY to obsessed with celebrities. They are JUST PEOPLE!!! And I feel very bad for those who try very hard to keep their personal lives personal, and because of society's obsession with them, they are unable to do so. That is where my "none of our business" comment came in.

Originally Posted by MJ7

I am not trying to judge in a condeming way but in a diserning way--even though it might come out as condeming since I disagree with the situation based on what I've heard thus far. And I know they are no more perfect than any of us. I would have these same concerns and feelings though if it were anyone. Maybe it's too much Dr. Laura as far as my ultra concervative belief lies here ?

I am a very conservative person, and I really do think that adoption should take place when a man and a woman are married. Personal opinion. That doesn't change the fact that that is just not the way things are in the US.....

Originally Posted by MJ7

I just hope they aren't just driven by warm fuzzy feelings about the sound of doing this, but really are looking at the children's NEEDS and what will lie in the best interest for THIER future.

I couldn't agree more !!! But I feel that way about every adoption situation, not just this one.