Any other unhappy-ending adoptive parents out there?

[Owlie]

My biology teacher's sister adopted two Russian brothers when they were about six and eight, I think. They had been malnourished and had spent much of their lives effectively alone. They were unholy terrors for a long time. He said they're doing better--physical work for the older one seems to help a lot.

A friend of mine was adopted, as was her (non-biological) brother, both as infants. They've both got some issues, but the brother's were worse. He'd get into a lot of trouble at school, and ended up threatening his sister. Long story short, she got sent to a school in Virginia (I don't know the whole story), they got some kind of help for the boy. My friend wound up dropping out of college and is now working at a bakery.

[Aggie_Ama]

My father was adopted at 7 when his alcoholic biological father gave him to the state. My Nanny and Pawpaw tried to take in both his biological brothers as fosters to keep them a complete family. Both brothers were older and had various problems, the only one I really know of is constantly stealing from my Dad and no amount of direction would stop it. My Nanny and Pawpaw only ending up raising my father because the others had no desire to be in a home environment, they would skip school and disappear for days as young teenagers. They bounced around from relative to relative then jail. One my father now has a relationship with, one he never has. I commend you for trying, my father's family situation isn't as severe as your but I know it pained my grandparents that they tried to do right by the family. I am sure you are not alone, I hope you are able to find the support you need.