«Today we leave for the trip we have been waiting for for a long timethe longest, most exciting and wonderful one ever.” With these exciting words on July 10th Benedetta Rossi announced via social media that he is about to conclude the process of adopting “two little sisters”. She and her husband Marco Gentili they will soon become parents. News that did not leave fans indifferent, so much so that in a short time the message was reached by a flood of comments of affection and closeness. To these, in a much lower percentage, further comments were added of amazement at the age of the future parents. The food creator is 53 years old, her husband is 54 years old: a compatible age given that the adoption institution provides for a «maximum difference between adopters and adopted person is 45 years for one spouse and 55 for the other». What counts, therefore, is not the age per se but the difference in years between the subjects involved.
The happy sharing of Benedetta Rossi and Marco Gentili then turns into a precious opportunity to remember how the institution of international adoption works in Italy, what the requirements are and what the process involves. Law 184/83 (as amended by law 149/2001) regulates adoption and foster care.. The requirements for international adoption are the same as for domestic adoption.
Regarding in particular the age of the intended parents, the Commission for International Adoptions explains that «the minimum difference between adopter and adoptee is 18 years; the maximum difference between adopters and adopted person is 45 years for one spouse, 55 for the other» and that «this limit is waived if the spouses adopt two or more siblings, and also if they have a natural or adopted minor child».
The age limits introduced by the law, the Commission continues, «they aim to guarantee the adopted parent suitable to raise him and follow him until adulthoodin a condition similar to that of natural parenting.”
In the announcement post, Benedetta Rossi herself mentions a deeply desired but also long and demanding path: «It was a journey that lasted years, years of waiting, silence and hope. We filled out papers, passed exams and faced the roller coaster of the heart. We have learned to wait with a patience we didn’t know we had and we managed to protect a dream that today is one step away from becoming reality. It wasn’t easy, but it was our way of becoming mom and dad.”
Regardless of the experience of Rossi and Gentile, it is true that the chronological age of the parents can have an impact on the overall process. The Commission for International Adoptions further explains: «Since the matching with the adoptable child is decided by the foreign Authority, the limits that Italian legislation has moved forward to also allow older couples to adopt have little effectiveness in reality because most foreign countries favor young couples».
After a long preparation, Benedetta Rossi and Marco Gentile are now finally ready for what they themselves have defined as “the longest, most exciting and wonderful journey ever”. Suitcases and passports in hand, all that remains is to wish them a good trip.
