Parents of adopted children were warned Wednesday night not to let problems of raising the child become unique and lead to neurosis for both persons.
The warning was sounded by Dr, Carl Adatto, psychiatrist, at a discussion meeting of the Children's Bureau of New Orleans, It was held at Dixon Hall, Tulane university campus.
Dr. Adatto said there is a little | difference in raising an adopted child but the development process is the same in all children,
"I believe there are two central points or themes which must be; faced and solved by both the adopted child and the parent," Dr. Adatto said,
'The first is that the child, some time between childhood and adolescence must identify himself. He must answer the question 'Who am I?', and 'Where do I belong in life?', and 'Ami different from others?' ■"..
He said the second problem is "from the viewpoint of the parent who asks himself 'Can I be an adequate parent?', and 'Can I meet the demand and task of
jaising this child?' and /Will the child love me ultimately?'.".
"These are not unique ques^ tions," Dr. Adatto said. "These are problems faced by every parent.
"They are real problems. But riot enough to create a unique problem of its own and lead to neurosis."
He said that the child solves bis problem gradually as he gets older. But for the parent the big problem is at the very beginning.
"The parent must struggle to achieve a feeling of adequacy and confidence in a short time! so he may relax and partake of I some of the enjoyment of being | a parent," Dr. Adatto said. |
Following his address Dr. Adat-I to answered questions on specific problems from parents of adopted children.
Robert R. Rainold, president of the board of the bureau, presided. PHOTO: TAKING PART Wednesday night at a lecture sponsored by by the Children's Bureau of New Orleans were (from left) Dr. Carl Adatto, psychiatrist; Mrs. Adela Hutson, executive secretary of the bureau, and Robert R; Rainold, president of the board of the bureau. The discussion was held at Dixon Hall on the Tulane university campus.
