Today my son and I headed of to the local McDonalds for lunch after preschool. I brought along some paperwork to do, expecting to just sit while he played in the indoor playground ,before we went on to a later appointment in another town. Instead I found myself a new friend.

We had almost finished our hamburgers when I noticed another mom with little boy about Carson’s size come in and sit near us. I also noticed she was giving me ‘the look’ for a few seconds, casually making eye contact (and no it wasn’t THAT kind of look, so stop it!) I am so used to getting looks that I honesty rarely notice them anymore. Most times I figure people are noticing that my son and I don’t really match up at first glance, and are wondering about our connections. Occasionally it is actually another adoptive parent doing the looking, sending out that radar that wants to know if I am an adoptive parent too.

Well I said hello and started a conversation, and in short order found myself mentioning a recent visit by Carson’s birthmom to the lady. That immediately sparked her interest, and she was quick to share with me that she was also an adoptive mom, with two children through open adoptions. I believe I was probably way to gung-ho back at her at this point, mainly because whenever I do meet other adoptive parents, my mention of the whole ‘open’ word usually sends them running in the opposite direction. She seemed to second my experience there, noting that most people do not get what she is doing having open adoptions, and contact either.

We talked (well probably I did most of the talking, I am just that way) and we exchanged info, and I do think in the future I will give her a call. Meeting others who have adopted is always interesting for me, but it is not that often that I also meet someone who can talk about openness and the benefits to adoptees with complete ease. In a huge way that is a sad statement for me to make, because is stands as evidence that most people adopting still are not stretching their minds enough to consider openness for their children.

When I sat down to write this, I remembered another adoption related meeting I had and posted about, and at another McDonalds no less. There must be something about Mickey D’s, perhaps they should put adoption McMeetings on the menu!

The Power To Open A Stranger’s Wallet

Adoption And Open Adoption - WHAT Do People Expect To Hear?



Photo