Giving Back

After going through something as life altering as placing a child for adoption, many birthmothers may find themselves wanting to “give back” as I call it. I think this typically stems from one of two common situations. Either a birthmother had awesome support pre and post placement and she wants to give back that support to others in the same situation or a birthmother had little, none, or very poor support before and after placement and she does not want others to go through the adoption process seemingly alone as she did, so helping others becomes a way of making sure that they have the support that she did not.

For many, helping others can be healing. It provides us with a sense of accomplishment that something good has come out of something sad and makes us feel helpful and needed. Many birthmothers go on to become active and involved in the adoption community and are helping others. Many find it rewarding to be able to provide support to others.

For example, the birthmom bloggers here are giving back through their experiences and their words, helping others to feel less alone, to heal, and offering their advice and personal experiences from the “been there, done that” perspective.

Birthmothers who actively participate in the forums are helping others in much the same way, by providing support, sharing personal experiences, and giving advice to pregnant women considering adoption and other birthmothers.

Other birthmothers are giving back and helping others in similar situations by starting support groups; going on to school to get a degree that allows them counsel birthmothers, volunteering at crisis pregnancy centers, mentoring pregnant women considering adoption, etc.

I will begin an ongoing series in which I will spotlight different women, different birthmothers who are now giving back and providing support and encouragement to other birthmothers and pregnant women considering adoption.

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.