Cork maths lecturer Maretta Brennan, adopted two Chinese children between 1998 and 2001. She then became pregnant, giving birth to her son Riain just over two weeks ago.
The mother of three, who did not have any children less than four years ago, also found time to set up a Chinese adoption contact group for parents in the Cork area.
Maretta, who lives in Ballincollig, Co Cork, started receiving calls from all over the country, prompting her and two other couples to form a national group.
"I couldn't believe the level of interest the group received so I started networking outside Cork. It is great to put people in contact with each other. Adoption is such an emotional roller-coaster - even more traumatic than pregnancy. It is important to meet up with people who have the same experiences."
The group organises events throughout the year focusing in particular on the Chinese New Year, the Summer Picnic and the Moon Festival in September. Meetings cover topics such as Chinese culture, preparation of adoption paperwork, couples telling their own adoption story, and classes in the Chinese language.
By meeting regularly, members are kept informed of changes in the adoption process. The meetings also provide an invaluable social network for both the parents and the children.
Up to 120 Irish couples are currently waiting to adopt children from China, with the process taking an average of seven months. In early 1998 the doors opened for Irish couples and single people to adopt from China.
In April of that year the first group of adopted Chinese children came to Ireland. It was the end of a long road for some of the parents, many of whom had waited five years to adopt a child.
Since then, the number of adopted Chinese children living in Ireland has grown to over 100. Many Irish couples are looking to Vietnam to adopt children as the waiting period is much shorter than China's.
Maretta and Michael Brennan were told it would take up to a year to adopt their first child, Aoife, and were stunned when the referral took just seven weeks.
They adopted the 14-month-old child in September 1998 and made the trip to a Christian orphanage to pick her up.
The toddler had been fostered for most of her early life, and luckily Maretta was given the opportunity to meet the child's foster family. "It was an emotional experience for all concerned. I met up with the foster parents, foster grandmother and about 20 other grandmothers who all played a part in minding Aoife. I left their home laden down with photos, milk, bags of apples, toys and clothes the grandmothers made for Aoife." The Brennans adopted Saoirse, now aged two, in November 2000. The child was abandoned on Christmas day of 1999 when she was five days old.
The couple felt it was important for Aoife to have a sister and by adopting a second Chinese child they were giving their daughter a link to her culture. They hope the contact group will eventually grow into a teenage network where girls who were brought to Ireland as toddlers can trade their life experiences.
"I think it is a natural progression, really. If the children ever decide to go looking for their birth parents they may feel more comfortable about talking to people who are in the same situation. These girls become like sisters to each other." Regular meetings with people of their own culture helps the children to feel more secure in their identity.
"It is so important for them to have that contact with other Chinese children - particularly for a child who may be the only Chinese girl to be adopted in a given area. It creates a sense of community and belonging."
For further information about the Chinese adoption group, see
http://spideog.cit.ie/lectures/ mlbrennan/corkchinesecontact.html or e-mail her husband Michael at mlbrennan@cit.ie
Alternatively, contact Maretta at (021) 4876240 or e-mail chairwoman Ann McKernan at
abmckernan_at_eircom.net
The Irish Adoption Board can be reached at (01) 6671392.