En la adopción el vínculo afectivo se construye: ¿existe el amor a primera vista?

Family experiences of couples who adopted their children in Medellín through the ICBF are presented. Objective: To understand the meaning that couples attribute to how the affective bond was generated in the adaptation phase of their adoption process. Methodology: Qualitative, hermeneutic phenomenological approach, multiple case study typology, in-depth interview technique, open-ended question guide instruments, timeline. Results: The particularity of each experience in the construction of the affective bond with adopted children is reported. The adaptation phase extended over time and was described by the couples as an extremely intense stage, as bonding cannot be measured chronologically but is emotionally constructed within the intersubjective relationship. Conclusions: The complexity of the bonding process in adoption cannot be anticipated; emotional bonding is the result of a bilateral and patient approach by the parents, requiring affection, validation of emotions, and acceptance of everyone's vulnerabilities. In most of the cases studied, there was an asynchronous rejection by the children towards some of their adoptive parents, which generated feelings of frustration, disappointment, and hopelessness, and required coping strategies.