Really, Parenthood You HAD To Go The Older Child, Latent With Attachment Issue Possibilities, Route? Really?!?!

I watched Parenthood last night with a bit of unease. I have watched it that way most of this season. I was sure that they were going to go with the adoptive parents take the baby home and birthmother returns to take the baby back JUST before her legal right to do so has ended. Seeing as how last night was the season finale that put a monkey wrench in my concept. Which meant I really did not know what to think. Michael thought that Julie and Joel would get the baby. I knew they wouldn't. 

I am glad they did not go with the storyline I expected. What do I think of what they did? Well, obviously, Zoe had the right to her baby. Obviously, it is sad for Julia and Joel. It was done okay, I guess. It's kind of old, as storylines go. Jenna wrote a great post about it (I've been kind of waiting to see what she said - I respect her a lot!)

And then there is the continued adoption storyline. OMG!!! I was SO NOT prepared for that boy to get out of the car. Michael was dealing with some last minute work disasters that kept him from watching with me. So, I was alone, on my bed and I was physically cringing from that child. Now, admittedly, if that boy came from his mother, who has cared for him and cared for him well he should not have true attachment problems. He should have adjustment problems. He should be angry. He should be sort of Problem Child like (you have seen that movie, right?). 

That said I am worried about where that storyline is going to go. I am worried that will go down the road of attachment. I know that people tend to see what they live. I know that I see possible attachment issues in places I never would have before. A friend recently told me about a relative adopting a toddler who had been the NICU for the first several months of their lives. My first impulse was to say tell the mom to read Taming the Tiger While It's Still a Kitten. Afterward I wondered if I should have just said congratulations. I wish I had known things before but I don't know if anyone could have made me see. But the point is I see attachment things all the time now that I did not see before. 

That said, I have seen RAD and other attachment disorders in the news more and there are more moms talking about it on facebook and in other places. Plus, I actually have seen two TV shows in the last few months that have done episodes where there is a character with RAD. So, it won't shock me if they go there. And I don't know if I will be able to watch it. Maybe I will. Probably not without Hubby. It would be highly emotional to watch. 

Then immediately my mind goes to what will Julia and Joel do? Will they keep this boy who comes in and causes trouble? Will they hand him off? That is a fair question regardless of if the show goes the attachment route or the simply troubled because mom is all of a sudden gone route. Oh goodness. I am so not prepared for that. The idea of watching them make that decision, of hearing it said through the mouths of writers I am 99% sure have no idea what that feels like. Oh what a mess. 

One last point - the jump from wanting a baby to agreeing to adopt a nine year old boy (or however old he is) feels very forced. They never say they are open to adopting an older child. Earlier in the episode they say "we just want a baby." As viewers we never even see them discuss it. All of which means they go into this with no idea what it means. No thought. Again, what a mess.