I have witnessed families who have adopted children both out of the U.S. foster care system and that of Russia and other post Soviet countries. The reality is that there is no guarantee, children do not come with warranties, they are fallible and raising a child, especially one who has spent the formative years of their development in state or institutional care is not easy. Children, nor parents, adjust to the sudden change in family structure, a new home, and life, and compound that with a new language and culture it’s a lot for anyone especially a child who has seen little stability and a parade of adults come in and out of their life, many making false promises and leaving children with little faith and trust in adults. Many children who are adopted have faced various levels of neglect and abuse and I don’t know that we can label taking such children into our families is that of a risk. While yes they may need some special attention, care, and counseling and will surely need time to adjust as will parents, but all children require special attention and have individual needs. There is no guarantee when you have a child of your own that they will be born healthy, but you cannot return them and the fact is that life in of its own self is a risk.
I worked with a family once who had adopted two children from Romania and the adjustment was long and hard for both the parents and the children. There was no simple solution to dealing with the adjustments and the parents had no proof of previous abuses and neglect, however it seemed very clear that there had been some and the parents were well aware of that risk. Trust was an issue for the older child he would trust anyone and fast, while his loving nature seemed so sweet to the passerby on the street, the parents rightfully were worried and rules were placed. Authority roles had to be established, he needed to learn what real love and trust was and it needed to come from his parents. The younger child was more fearful of adults and trust was hard to build, she needed time to learn that all adults were not there to hurt her. The parents and children were in a support group they formed of other local families that had adopted from the region and faced similar challenges. The family also sought guidance from a physiologist prior to the adoption and following to ensure the children would be given what they needed, and they were beginning to adjust. Years later the family structure full of rules and precautions have mostly subsided and the image of a typical happy “American Family” has begun to emerge and no one would change it for the world. The point is that the family knew it wouldn’t be easy to raise these children and they were prepared and they knew and felt these were their children from day one, there was not thought of giving-up.
While we of course all know parenting is never easy, maybe the lesson learned in this case is that parents adopting, especially older children, need to truly understand the risks and what their resources, rights, and laws are. 
In the wake of scandal the Russian government then placed a suspension on the adoptions’ of Russian children to the United States (AP). Russian officials have provided little clarification about the hundreds of U.S. adoptions now in progress, however stated that parents should still prepare their paperwork during the freeze. David Siefkin, press attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, said the United States has not received official notification of a freeze either. However the news has many families with adopted children from Russia upset and angered of the families return of a child. Others, such as Bestsy Lowry, who are in the midst of the adpotion process are undoubtedly worried;
She frequently calls her adoption agency for updates. So far, her application is still on track. “You heart is just kind of stuck in your throat all the time. You feel like you have absolutely no control,” said Lowry (VOA News).
The U.S. State Department will be meeting with Russian officials in Moscow on April 29 and 30 to discuss better ways to protect both children and parents in international adoptions. The outcome while unknown is expected to ensure adoptions between the U.S. and Russia are once again are returned. The one thing that is known that this one single case has tainted the image of international adoptions and the child will now have to live with another memory of abandonment.