This scenario could go two different ways, but the end result is the same, you are separated by many miles from your child and your child’s family. Before I dive into the subject at hand, let me say, that I understand not everyone placed their child with adoptive parents in the same area, so this is geared towards those who do…

You place your child in an open adoption agreement and are able to see him or her periodically but then because of career choices, family situations, or other circumstances on either your part or your child’s family’s part, you (scenario... more

Think abut this scenario:

You become unexpectedly pregnant at a time in your life with you really can not care for a child financially, emotionally, or physically. You feel that a stable home with a two parent family; a mother and a father, could provide your child with more than you can at this time in your life. You make an adoption plan and choose open adoption so that you will be able to see and know your child over the years. You are doing ok. It's been an emotional rollercoaster, but you deal with your feelings and emotions... more

I’m going to begin a short little series on some of the things that may arise and that you may have to deal with in your adoption situation.

One of your rights as a mother is to name your baby, even if you are making an adoption plan, naming your baby is still your right. The adoptive parents then have the right to re-name the child. In some open adoptions nowadays, birthparents and adoptive parents will discuss the child’s name before hand and come to an agreed name. In other cases where the birthmom names her child, adoptive parents may keep the first... more

With all the information out there for adult adoptees seeking to access original birth records when searching for birthparents, I thought it would be good to discuss how having access in an open adoption can benefit your child and their rights to their own information.

It might not sound like a big deal, getting a copy of your adopted child’s original birth certificate, after all you may already know all the information that it would show anyway. For many adoptees however, one of the most stinging realities of being an adopted person lies... more

Recently my middle child Cierra, who has always had a fully open arrangement with many members of her extended birthfamily, has begun seeing her birthmother again. So far we are about a year into renewed visits and there have definitely been some not so subtle changes in our daughter as a result.

Right after the adoption we had contact with R, but our daughter was still a newborn and does not recall to much from those early visits. Unfortunately soon after things happened in R’s life that prevented her from visiting even though she desired too and... more

Fellow blogger Jenna wrote a really great series about her “coming out of the closet” so to speak as a birthmother. It makes sense that presenting yourself in this little understood light can be difficult and you would expect to be unfairly judged and scrutinized. I am really glad she shared that aspect of her situation. I as well as a few others were surprised to learn that she was not always so open because she presents such a strong voice online.... more