Personal Narrative: Teenage Adoption

Lesbian, Gay, and Heterosexual Couples in Open Adoption Arrangements: A Qualitative Study comes from the Journal of Marriage and Family, published April 1, 2001. The authors Abbie Goldberg, Lori Kinkler, and Hannah Richardson all have a background that makes them qualified to be a creditable source. Goldberg has masters’ degree in psychology and a PhD in clinical psychology. She is a professor of clinical psychology at Clark University and also teaches courses on gender and families – diversity in contemporary families. Goldberg is interested in many social issues including, social class and the contexts that effect development and mental health – major interest in adoption, gay/lesbian parenting, and family diversity. Her research focuses

Those who have gone through the adoption process often refer to it as a roller coaster ride. There are moments when you feel you have been climbing forever – working towards a desired result that seems to never arrive. Then suddenly you are hanging on for dear life as you are whipped through major stretches at break neck speed, twisting and turning. You may lose sight of the ground and find yourself reacting instead of relying on your careful plans and preparations. What’s the trick to a successful adoption? You might say that it’s learning how to enjoy the ride for what it is...something you probably can’t predict, but that leads you right where you wanted to go. Struggling to stay grounded during your own roller coaster adoption ride?

Adoption is a process that can last a lifetime. Traveling through emotions of insecurity, feeling pressured to be a “perfect child” for a new family, and not knowing if you’ll be able to stay with the limited family you do have: siblings. Growing up trying to follow the path of what Americans call an “American dream” was ruined from age one. Since then, I have been in many different homes. At age two, I was finally adopted by the people I now get to call my mom and dad. My life has been a roller coaster that I was hopeful would soon one day come to a stop. I always predicted that I would once find out who my real parents are. Being adopted is like having white clouds in the sky as it pours down rain. It is like a train that is unstoppable.

One year later, a very tragic day happened. I have heard the talk about the word “adoption” and that “there’s too many dogs.” I ran towards Koda and hugged his paw. “What’s the matter?” asked Koda. “Dad, whats adoption?” I asked. “Adoption is a state of someone legally takes someone or something and brings it up as one’s own.” “What do you mean?” I asked. “It’s time for your brothers and sisters to be adopted,” said Koda, “but don’t worry, Kingsay has a home here and so do you.” Then, my owner came and picked up Koda and Koko and took them to the car. “Dad!!” I yelled. “Mom!!” yelled Kingsay. “Kido, don’t worry about me,” said Koda, “just be brave and take care of your brother.” “Kingsay, I will always love you,” said Koko, “take care of yourself

My most enduring passion is the care of foster children. This interest sprouted several years ago when my aunt and uncle first became foster parents. Since then, as I have loved and tended to the children in their care, it has grown into a full-fledged desire to base my career on ameliorating these children’s lives. I aspire to pursue a career in law so that I may one day fight for their prosperity and facilitate their adoptions into loving homes. Studying Political Science would allow me to achieve these goals by preparing me for law school. Along with the ability to lead me towards my desired career path, this major encompasses a plethora of captivating subjects: government, problem solving, critical thinking, writing, philosophy and ethics,

After a moment or so, Makoto took a deep breath, and I was ready for him to tell me to deal with it on my own. I was already considering giving it up for adoption, because I knew for a fact that I couldn’t take care of it if it was on my own. It was an honest mistake, but there was no way in hell I could help work with that mistake.

It was five years into our marriage when my husband and I decided to adopt. We were told that I was infertile. We adopted a 3-year-old boy called Ryan. He was very kind and affectionate. He would often hug me and say 'I love you mommy'. We were happy; our little family was complete. I then became pregnant.

One typical Saturday afternoon, my mom's friend, Kristen called and asked if we wanted to adopt

My mother was all I had in this world. It has been two weeks and I

It was April 23, 2009, and my sister had just come home from Taiwan, with my mom that day. My parents paid extensive attention to her, so neither my brother, nor I got any attention from my parents. This also meant that we couldn’t spend much time with her, either. However, before she was adopted, we shared the attention of our parents.

Even though the family got their later then they wanted, there was still a wait because the case before them was a heated custody battle that last longer than expected.

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

The purpose of this article is to show us the research that was conducted on challenges that older kids face when it comes to adoption in foster care. New data is also presented from the voices of the youth who received services from the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption’s Wendy’s Wonderful kids (WWK) adoption recruitment program ().

I am just one of the 135,000 people who have been adopted through an array of organizations and countries. I am a significant percentage in a melting pot of individuals who hold a title for themselves that billions of other people are incapable of having. I am a child, born and raised knowing that I held no blood relation to the family I have grown up with and continually surrounded myself with. But genetically I am the product of a failing mother and a runaway father. Does this title have any influence on my life? Do I already have a plan for my future that I am incapable of changing? With 99% of adopted individuals aware that they are adopted and with 90% of them holding a positive outlook on their circumstance why are there so many problems during the adolescent phase of children who were adopted? (Adoptions) Many studies point towards a few key roles on a child’s life that seem to hold a significant impact on their lives. These key roles are greatly influenced when growing up an adopted child. So the question that I seem to revisit in my head is that if I am a child who grew up knowing they were adopted, am I destined for success or failure?

Adopting a child is an experience that promises to bring great joy as it changes a couple or individual’s life forever. But what happens if the mother of that child wants to endorse their child? Those are the issues that many adopting parents and birth-right mothers are facing today. Many biological mothers want their child back. There are many concerns for adopting parents to know- that there is the possibly that the birth mother may file for the child. As a birth mother or the adopting parent one must realize consequences that could lay ahead.