We asked for feedback on the adoption storyline that’s developed over the last two seasons of Parenthood. Two characters, Joel and Julia Braverman, were working with an expectant mom, but she decided to parent after giving birth. Soon after, the couple brought home an older boy, Victor. Has the storyline been realistic? Has the show handled the topic sensitively? How do you feel when adoption crops up in TV shows? Here’s what some of you have shared on our Facebook page and community site, adoptivefamiliescircle.com.
“I was pleasantly surprised by how the show handled the ups and downs of newborn adoption, but I rolled my eyes at the immediate substitution of an older child. Did they have the necessary training? Were they homestudy-approved for an older child? As an adoptive mom, I was excited to see a good adoption story on TV, and that’s why I originally tuned in. But I was turned off by the sudden appearance of an eight-year-old in their family.” —YESIMLN • VIA ADOPTIVEFAMILIESCIRCLE
“I love Parenthood, loved it before the adoption episodes and even more after. The way they portrayed the adoption stirrings was right on. From Julia’s wanting the young woman’s baby to flat-out asking for it — desperate measures. I know it crosses minds — ‘Why can’t I just have that baby?’ — whether we go that far or not. They also did an excellent job leading up to the birth of the baby, portraying the stress of not knowing what will take place. The episode when the baby was born was wonderful, a total tearjerker, and, oh, how true. You just never know in adoptions. It left me excited to see what the Braverman family is up to this season!” —JENNIFER • VIA FACEBOOK
“They definitely glossed over the process of adopting from foster care. Didn’t they have to take a class, get homestudied? It made it seem like they just give kids to white people who have money. But I like the way they have been handling the new dynamics within the family. I loved when Julia stayed outside his school all day. She wondered whether it was the wrong thing to do, but it was exactly what he needed.” —KATE • VIA FACEBOOK
“I wanted to see how they would handle it, and was ultimately disappointed. There was no talk about an older child, and then there he is. They did a shoddy job of explaining even the big details, and left out the training they should have had. I found myself yelling at the TV, because it appeared the child was not in any type of therapy. A child his age, mom signs away her rights…and no therapy for him? My interest in the show was flagging, but I stuck it out to see the adoption storyline play out. Now I’m done.” —JOCELYN21403 • VIA ADOPTIVEFAMILIESCIRCLE
“What they did wrong: failed to explain why they changed their mind from adopting a baby to adopting a boy from foster care, who is older than their daughter. What they did right: showed some real challenges that can come with adopting an older child. I like that Julia has been learning Spanish. They also showed the understandable jealousy that their daughter felt when they pretty much ignored her to concentrate on their new son.” —CHRISTINE • VIA FACEBOOK
“I had such a beef with the episode when Victor asked to have a play date with a friend from his old neighborhood, and Julia told Joel that the caseworker advised against it. That she thought it better to leave the past in the past and let him focus on a fresh start. This would likely be encouraged in most real-life adoption situations. And don’t get me started on how they seemed to flip a switch and went from grieving their infertility to immediately embracing an adoption plan. To properly address adoption could take over the whole show, of course, but it would be nice if the entertainment industry dealt with it in a somewhat realistic manner by, say, actually consulting with someone who has a clue.” —CHICO • VIA ADOPTIVEFAMILIESCIRCLE
“Some people move quickly from grieving their infertility to embracing adoption. Not everyone grieves the same way or takes as long to grieve as others do. And this is TV, so everything gets accelerated. I like the show and, while not everything has been ideal in its portrayal of adoption, I have yet to hear of a real-life ideal adoption. Not even sure what that means, to be honest.” —PESTY • VIA ADOPTIVEFAMILIESCIRCLE
“I enjoy Parenthood and I, too, am glad that they were not able to adopt the child at the end of last season, because that made it more real. However, this makes everyone think that this is how every adoption can go, and scares them…so, plus and minus.” —ASHLEY • VIA FACEBOOK
“I’m happy that adoption is part of the plot in many TV shows now, but I also worry that this is promoting adoption as a trend, rather than as a way many of us choose to grow our families.” —RACHEL • VIA FACEBOOK
