Personal Narrative: Closed Adoption

Focus: Mary and her family will learn and utilize healthy communication skills to move towards adoption. Ms. Smalls (MHP), Mrs. Gailliard (MHS), and Mary discuss the adoption process.

The day my nephew, Brantley, was conceived I did not apprehend how imperative his presence would become in my life. Even at such a young age he promptly became attached to me at the hip and would act as if the world were ending as soon as I had to leave. Seeing Brantley care that much about not only me but the rest of my family, made me come to the conclusion that unconditional love was a very solid quality in him. No matter what happened that either made him frustrated or upset, he would always forgive and love you even more after the fact. This trait will carry on with him throughout his life and ultimately help him overcome particular situations. Seeing past all the tantrums, I finally appreciated him. The older he becomes, the more important

A majority of the adoptions conducted through our agency are semi-open in nature. Closed adoptions are rare at American Adoptions. We ask that waiting families agree at a minimum to provide pictures and letters at periodic intervals to the birth parents, if it is requested by them. Our agency will be responsible for routing all correspondence to ensure confidentiality.

My mother was also in her twenties when I was born. Since my mother worked I spent a lot of time with my grandparents. By then my grandmother was the age of Ms

This also may act as a kind of reunion for the child, biological parents, as well as the adopting parents. A strong relationship is bound to develop as everyone bonds and get to know about each other. A new, positive relationship could change a family in many ways. The parents and child are most likely to have an everlasting bond throughout the rest of their lives.

Children have a tendency to bring out the very best in people. I can say I have been fortunate to have four little blessings of my own. I consider each of them as a blessing and each day I am reminded of how much they mean to me. My children have brought out the best in me--parts that I never knew existed. As children grow, so do parents. I have evolved into a better person with the courage to overcome all obstacles because of the love that I have for my children.

Throughout life I have experienced numerous events that have shaped me into becoming the person I am to this day. Out of all these events, my adoption has been the most significant and life changing event of my life. Two weeks before my first birthday in, I was adopted from Nanchang, China. As I grew up, my parents never once tried to conceal my adoption. Without them, I believe I would have grown to be a totally different person. Although I was adopted and brought in by my adoptive parents, I see myself in the everyday. I see them as nothing less than my real parents and I aspire to be as generous and compassionate as they are. Without them, I would have never been able to experience half of the life changing events I have gone through. As

Two years ago sibling B reached out to sibling A about a pending separation from her husband. The major concerns were expressed via phone and text. The result of these dialogues expressed a concern

In the short time that I have been a mother I have learned many things. I have realized that every day is a learning experience. I have taken the mistakes that I have made and learned from them. My children have pushed me to strive for

My middle children were adopted and have special needs such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, asthma, chronic pain and hearing loss. I have learned

In May 2002, my family received the exciting news that my aunt was approved to adopt a baby boy from Guatemala. This was extremely exciting for me. Getting a new cousin meant I would finally have someone to play with. We were all extremely excited and immediately started thinking of names, buying massive amounts of baby toys, and of course thinking about all the memories that we were going to make in the future. Up to this point my family had been extremely lucky, everything had always gone the way we had expected it to. We did not even think of the possibility that something could go wrong. A few years after my aunt adopted Gabriel however, he was diagnosed with autism. Naturally, this came as a big shock to our family and we were then faced with just as many difficulties as Gabe felt himself. Having Gabriel as my cousin, has taught me so many life lessons that I am so grateful to have experienced.

One of the biggest changes that has ever occurred in my life happened when I was in first grade. That was the year my family adopted my baby sister Allison. Allison came into my life when she was just three months old, and I can still remember my parents asking if I would like to have a younger sibling. My immediate thought to the question was “YES”. I distinctly remember picturing me slamming my door when my little me made me angry, playing games with her or him, and sharing secrets we didn’t tell our parents. I truly loved the idea of having a younger brother or sister, and was excited that my parents would be giving me an amazing gift.

Adopting a child, especially internationally, can be quite challenging, but it can also be one of the most rewarding experiences that a family can go through. Families who adopt cross-culturally inevitably face a few barriers when it comes to acclimating a new family member into their lifestyle, but, I happen to know plenty of parents who have taken the plunge, and I have seen the incredible joy that has sprung from it. I decided to interview a family who has adopted because I believe that it is one of the most “diverse” experiences a family can go through. I have plenty of friends that have adopted siblings, and, personally, I would love to adopt a child one day.

In order to adopt a child, adults go through an adoption process. This process takes time

The day I found out that my parents were actually my grandparents was the most surreal day of my entire life. I woke up thinking that I knew who I was, only to have that shattered in a matter of minutes. I never had any idea that I was adopted until the day my “parents” finally decided to tell me. They had always been my parents, and I knew I did not look like them, but I always joked around and claimed I was the mailman’s daughter. I never knew that I was not their biological child. Finding out this information was a hard thing to take in, but it is something that I have come to appreciate. The day my adoptive parents told me that I was adopted was the day I questioned everything.