[Who are my parents? Filial adoption and the function of time and place]

Despite a substantial development for several years, adoption frequently remains seen as an unnatural phenomenon which cannot replace a biological relationship. In all periods and everywhere in the world children have been and are being resettled, and history and anthropological studies show that there exist as many modes of adoption as societies. In some societies, such as in Polynesia, no differences exist between biological and adoptive parenthood. The most important thing is to allow every child to have a family, biological or not. The adopted child must be told about her/his adoption as early as possible in a natural manner. Concealing the truth may lead to a profound psychological wound when later learned by the child.