Tag: birth parents

  • What Adoptees Must Consider Before Searching for Birth Family

    What Adoptees Must Consider Before Searching for Birth Family

    “Understanding my adoption experience,” Richard says, “has allowed me to bring authenticity to my relationships with family, friends, and others in my life. I no longer hide my thoughts and feelings—the veil of secrecy has been lifted. People now get the real Richard since I’ve uncovered my past, understand how precious the present is, and…

  • Helping Adopted Kids Think Freely About Their Birth Parents

    Helping Adopted Kids Think Freely About Their Birth Parents

    Parents, I know you and the fact that you’re reading this shows your heart. You would do anything to help your child come to terms with his/her first family. Here’s what you can do: Bring up the birth parents in conversation. “I wonder where you got that curly black hair. Do you think it could…

  • Adoption Triad: Can We Just Get Along?`

    Adoption Triad: Can We Just Get Along?`

    Sherrie shares her concern for the next generation of those touched by adoption and offers self-inventory questions to promote unity and healing.

  • One Thing Birth Parents Must Never Say

    One Thing Birth Parents Must Never Say

    Often times birthparents want to show love to their relinquish children so much, but they don’t know how their statements will translate to an adoptee or foster child’s heart. Birthparents, learn hear what will edify us.

  • I Need to Know the Truth About My Conception, Birth, and Family History, No Matter How Painful the Details May Be

    I Need to Know the Truth About My Conception, Birth, and Family History, No Matter How Painful the Details May Be

    The late Betty Jean Lifton, author of Lost and Found: The Adoption Experience, describes the adoptee’s growing awareness of his desire to know more about his biological family as an awakening: “The act of adoption puts us under a spell that numbs our consciousness. When we awaken it startles us to realize we might have…

  • Mother’s Day Tips for Rejected Adoptees

    When I returned from my reunion with my birth mother twenty years ago and called to thank her for the visit, she announced to me that she wanted no more contact. Twenty years ago, there wasn’t anything written about this experience and I felt so ashamed and was sure the rejection was because of something…

  • Confessions of An Adoptee Hoarder

    Our living room floor was scattered with tidbits of paper, scratched-out notes from my first conversation with birth relatives, photos of generations past, a handwritten will of my birth grandmother, the first card I received from my birth mother, the newspaper clipping with the hand carved ship my grandfather made for Henry Ford back in…