| The adoption of children from orphanages in Eastern Europe has increased significantly in the past decade, despite research that links institutionalized childcare to the development of attachment disorder in children. Mothers of adopted children with attachment disorder are subject to unique stressors because of the children's inability to give and receive affection in ways that are healthy for the family.;In this phenomenological study, 14 women were asked to describe their life since the adoption of their Eastern European children with attachment disorder. Four themes were derived from the participant's interviews: (1) Iron curtains of the heart, an expression of the isolation that occurred after the adoption of a child with attachment disorder; (2) Through the looking glass---Darkly, which describes life in a household where the normal rules of childrearing and parenting are suspended; (3) Unraveling of the Madonna tapestry, which describes the mothers' expectations of herself as the maternal parent; and (4) Chaotic checkmate which describes the struggle for control between children with attachment disorder and their parents. In addition, literary and artistic sources were investigated to discover how attachment disorder is depicted.;The findings of this study indicate that adoptive mothers of Eastern European children with attachment disorder are in need of increased support and understanding. Nurses, particularly advanced practice nurses, who work with adoptive families, must be able to assess the degree of attachment between an adoptive child and their parents, evaluate the mother's ability to cope, and be prepared to refer the family to available therapeutic resources. Increased sensitivity, and awareness of everyday life with a child with attachment disorder, can make adoption professionals and healthcare workers more responsive to the needs of this unique group of adoptive mothers. |
