Podcasts about closed adoption

Why does the NEDC require its adopting families to complete a home study, and what's involved? How are open adoption relationships worked out? And why do all NEDC adopters go through training/education modules? Christian Adoption Consultants Lead Social Worker & Embryo Program Coordinator Rebekah McGee answers all those questions and more in this episode of The Embryo Adoption Podcast. Plus, Rebekah shares the heart for adoption that led her to this work in the first place. Share, rate, review, and subscribe to The Embryo Adoption Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.

NPR's co-host of Morning Edition, Steve Inskeep, explores Abraham Lincoln's political skills in his latest work. Also, Author Andrea Ross defines her true identity and details her chronic illness in her new book.

In this episode, Sophia Mills and Rylie Heck speak with Julie McGue, an adult adoptee, identical twin, and author. At the age of 48, a breast biopsy brought to light the limitations of closed adoption, sparking a quest to uncover her birth circumstances, family medical history, and genealogy. Beyond her writing, Julie is a mother, grandmother, and an identical twin, embracing the myriad roles and experiences life has offered her. She has a lifelong passion for storytelling and has filled countless journals and binders with narratives and reflections from her experiences.  She writes about finding out who you are, where you belong, and making sense of it.Julie has published two award-winning books, Twice a Daughter is about the five year search for birth relatives. Belonging Matters is a collection of essays about adoption, family, and kinship. Her third book, a prequel to Twice a Daughter, comes out in Feb. 2025. Julie McGue takes us on a gripping exploration of her profound adoptee journey through a medical crisis within the confines of closed adoption, discovering personal identity and voice while weaving resilience and inspiration from every challenge faced.GUEST INFORMATION/LINKS: https://juliemcgueauthor.comwww.facebook.com/juliemcguewriteswww.twitter.com/juliermcguewww.instagram.com/julieryanmcguewww.Goodreads.com/julieryanmcguewww.linkedin.com/in/julie-mcgue-a246b841

Teenage pregnancy and adopting out is an emotional and heart-wrenching experience for all involved. When, in 1996, Heather Andrews found herself pregnant at 18 years old without her family and the baby’s father's support, she faced a systematic culture of shame, guilt, and abandonment. In this first of a two-part series, Heather shares the story of her first traumatic pregnancy, which ended with her adopting out her firstborn son in a closed adoption.  In our second-part episode, we will then hear a similar story two decades later in 2017, when Heather’s daughter Kiara Williamson, as a pregnant teenager herself, adopted her daughter out in a much more supportive story with an open adoption. Kiara, empowered by her journey, is helping others find their “Birth Mom Tribe” at TikTok, Instagram, and on Facebook. The juxtaposition between these two stories highlights the importance of nonjudgmental support, the danger of cultural shame, the power of communication, and the importance of tapping into your own personal power.  Even though we live in challenging times, we can become 'Relentlessly Resilient' as we lean on and learn from one another’s experiences. Hosts Jennie Taylor and Michelle Scharf are no strangers to overcoming adversity; Michelle lost her husband to cancer, while Jennie’s husband, Major Brent Taylor, was killed in the service of our country. Their stories bond them together, and now listeners can join them weekly as they visit with others enduring challenges and who teach us how they are exercising resiliency, finding value in their grief, and purpose in moving forward.  Presented by Minky Couture, makers of the most luxurious and soft blankets with a mission to share comfort and love during the special moments of life. Listen to the Relentlessly Resilient Podcast regularly on your favorite platform, at kslpodcasts.com, kslnewsradio.com, or on the KSL NewsRadio App. Join the Resilience conversation on Facebook at @RelentlesslyResilient and Instagram @RelentlesslyResilientPodcast. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

You find out your wife is actually your sister after being married for 6 years, what would you do?On the road to 500 Subscribers!!!Episode 2900:00 Coming Up00:23 Intro01:05 Divorce or Stay Married09:59 Riddle Me Riddler15:23 Sips n Spills Groupchat35:42 Would You Rather48:05 StorytimeJoin us for some "sips and spills" every Wednesday. Pour a glass of your fave drink and let's dish! Watch To Us Over On Youtube - https://youtube.com/@HappyHourWithSnLPodcast?si=OUnDeSiy003vtH9S LIKE! SUBSCRIBE! TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS! Leave a comment! Cheers with Us Over on Our Socials Instagram - https://instagram.com/happyhourwithsnl?igshid=MzRIODBiNWFIZA== Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@happyhourwithsnl?_t=8gEvetJ9262&r=1 Twitter - https://x.com/happyhrwithsnl?s=21&t=lfA-AuiaHao7FpMel_8SiQ Laurel Instagram - https://instagram.com/laur_walts?igshid=MWZjMTM2ODFkZg== Sherain Instagram - https://instagram.com/gabreignn?igshid=MWZjMTM2ODFkZg== Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@shereignnn?_t=8gEvyf5LJ2r&_r=1

➡️ Jeseray is a fantastic storyteller - you will go through the emotions with her as she takes you on the 40+ year journey to find her brother.➡️ “My mom was very open that she was not able to give him the life she wanted, so he was put up for adoption.I tried looking for him - I couldn't find him.I would try, wouldn't get anywhere, and would give up.Maybe he's not even alive. Maybe he doesn't want to be found. Maybe I'm not meant to find my brother. I had this very strong moment - it's ok if I don't find my brother.Then began the waiting process….That shock is real. This is my brother - this is my brother! I never thought I would find my brother!You're real. You're here. This is not a moment I ever thought I would get.Grateful is the easiest word to use - but doesn't even begin to describe it.”➡️ “I think one of the hardest things was - because I did have a traumatic relationship with my mom for a lot of my adult life, even after I got through the grief of her passing. My mom isn't someone I look up to. My mom isn't someone I model my parenting after. When his mom said, “We prayed and are thankful fo your mom every day.” That was hard. That was hard to hear someone say, “We loved your mom, we prayed for your mom, we're thankful for her, and we're so blessed by her.” Because that's not the experience I got. It really changed my view of my mom. It made me dig deeper. It made me appreciate her a little more.”You can find “Ordinary People Extraordinary Things” anywhere you listen to podcasts or Check out the links below....⬇️https://www.buzzsprout.com/1882033https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xODgyMDMzLnJzcw==?fbclid=IwAR247ak35J8RZi5b7yy5bLckHABNYCBnwYxGS0NU1spsVtKqsxhFH4PCaZMhttps://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ordinary-people-extraordin-89553427/Https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ordinary-people-extraordinary-things/id1596670894https://open.spotify.com/show/5wVEm2IUT7lpVGBdbgqagdhttps://www.youtube.com/@GenNancyordinarypeoplestories@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/ordinarypeoplestory https://www.instagram.com/ordinarypeopleextraordinary/ Twitter: @storiesextra Any advice should be confirmed with a qualified professional.All rights reserved: Ordinary People Extraordinary ThingsStories shared by guests may not always be shared views of OPET

In this episode we chat about adoption, because motherhood also comes through adoption. We get informed and raise awareness on the topic.We go through our personal perspective on potentially becoming adoptive moms and if we feel called to adopt, as well as chat with Amber Mamian who is a mom of six and has adopted twice, to find out more information about adoption through her experience.We talk about international vs domestic, open vs closed, agency vs attorney, adopting a newborn vs toddler, fears and struggles that come with,  the waiting game of adoption, and we even talk about pregnancy after adoption, pregnancy after miscarriage and pregnancy/parenting in your 40s vs 20s!You can find Amber on Instagram, Facebook, and her blog, where you can read all details about her adoption experiences.Follow us on Instagram for more updates, bts and ask us episode questions @momfriendspodYou can also follow us on our personal accounts @rrayyme & @laura.gimbertAnd remember to subscribe so you don't miss any of our episodes, out every Tuesday!This podcast does not provide any medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen.

NPR's co-host of Morning Edition, Steve Inskeep, explores Abraham Lincoln's political skills in his latest work. Also, Author Andrea Ross defines her true identity and details her chronic illness in her new book.

60-year-old closed adoptee Jenny Small is looking for her whakapapa. But the search to find her whānau is complex. It involves one of New Zealand's most notorious psychiatric institutions and a 68-year-old law that cut thousands of Māori off from their identity.

Our Sponsor: To check out and sign up for Darcie Nicole's classes in American Diction & Singing Contemporary Music, speaking for interviews, presentation during February and March and to email intentimpactmarketing@gmail.com for dates! Mention The Franciska Show and get discounted price for the classes you want to take! Throwback Episode Of The Week: About the Netflix Series "My Unorthodox Life" with Dr. Efrat Bruck https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-talk-about-the-issues-brought-up-in-my/id1316933734?i=1000529763337   Message Franciska to join The Whatsapp Group: franciskakay@gmail.com Launch Your Podcast Today- www.franciskakosman.com   Would you like to be a SPONSOR? Reach out about new sponsorship opportunities for your brand & organizations - franciskakay@gmail.com     About Our Guest:   I am an adoptee looking to tell my story and share my experiences of being born to a christian family and adopted by a Jewish modern orthodox family.   www.Adopteeson.com   Check out www.JewishCoffeeHouse.com for more Jewish Podcasts on our network.

Full show notes here Are you a mother or mother-to-be who is ready to claim her life and navigate how life could be if she finally saw herself as a whole sovereign being who is deserving of love, grace, and joy, that I already know her to be? Sign up for a Support Call to see if The Village is right for you!  And if you are just wanting to dip your toes into the possibility of taking care of yourself then receive The Empowered Mother's Meditation Series for FREE when subscribing to my newsletter! Follow me on IG @iamspiritofmother  The world of parenthood is not linear and holds many different avenues of experiences. On this weeks episode, Slade Powell joins and share he's experience of the shock of discovering he was expecting after making the decision to not want a child. The range of emotions that were felt in his decision to ultimately put his child up for adoption was challenging, but it was one he knew would be best for all. Slade shares that during the time of deciding to choose between adoption or an abortion, he heard to voice of the Universe guiding him, and to his surprise, divine timing shined its light on the perfect adoptive parents for his child. Many years later, they have an open adoption that has allowed Slade and family to still be apart of his son's life. They have learned to move in the joy of following ones inner voice and releasing of any shame. Slade emphasizes how normal and okay it is to conceive a child and to make the decision to put them up for adoption knowing it is what is best for the the parent deciding, the child, and families out there wanting a baby of their own. Since 2009, Slade Powell (he/him) has voraciously pursued the big questions through personal methods of discovery. He facilitates ready clients' quantum leaps in self-trust, accepting love, and living aligned with their truth, through inner voice work + Akashic records readings. Book a free consultation call at sladepowell.com. In this episode you'll have sight into: [14:31] New Years Intentions [17:27] Inner wild child [20:43] Finding enjoyment after being down for so long [31:06] Slade's story [48:41] Divine timing: Discovering the adoptive parents [51:38] Moments of joy through hard times [56:33] Open vs Closed Adoption [62:47] Normalize putting a child up for adoption without shame [66:21] Own family's relationship with the adoption [01:14:59] Post-partum experience [01:24:08] Closing words of wisdom [01:27:39] Third Eye Guided Meditation led by Amber Dolan-Bath Quotes: “The invisible children – the ones that live in your heart and not in your house.” “I heard in my head the word “adoption,” and that was the first time I remember truly hearing my inner voice.” “That's my kid, and he will always be to me ‘my kid,' he's just not only ‘my' kid.” “I gave him the family he needed.” “My job was to transport him to them, and I am so clear on that.” “It's a choice: are you going to hold onto the shit? Or are you going to let it go and figure out how to grow through it.” “If you make the right choice for you, you will make the right choice for everyone else.” Connect with Slade: The Art of Being IG: @slade.powell Website

This interview is co-hosted with Julie Morris from "The Secret Club of Adoption," where we interview Frank "Tony" Rich, who was adopted as a baby.  Tony's adopted mom, Vera Rich, led a life of many hardships from the age of 13.  She grew up during the early 1930s and the U.S. Depression Era.  She had to run away from a bad family life and raise her younger brother on her own.  At 14, Vera got married to a 26-year-old lumberjack in Oregon.  Tony's adopted mother became one of the first single mothers allowed to keep her adopted son in California.  Tony grew up knowing he was adopted and called his birth mother Aunt Elaine, as she stayed in touch with his adopted mom, Vera.  Listen to learn more about Tony's perspective on growing up adopted.  This series of adoptee interviews is to help people learn more about navigating adoption.oneinterviewoneworld.com

Today's guest has a host of experiences when it comes to creating a family. She and her partner had their first child when she was 35. And when they tried to have another, things didn't quite line up. And so she and her partner looked for adoption, something she'd always been interested in exploring, as she herself was adopted. She'd anticipated that her experience would draw her closer to her daughter, but what she hadn't expected is that it also drew closer to her mother. 

Show Notes Episode 7: Advantages & Disadvantages of Open Vs. Closed Adoption In this Episode Heather discusses: Open vs Closed Adoption Advantages and disadvantages of open adoption Advantages and disadvantages of closed adoption A peek into our open adoption arrangement Adoption terms Links Mentioned: fortheloveofadoption.com Hi, friends. Welcome back to the For the Love of Adoption Show, Episode Seven. Last week, we talked about open versus closed adoption. And we started looking at some of the differences between them and some of the advantages and disadvantages. If you have not listened to that episode, yet, this is part two. So, I would suggest going back and listening to that first. We are going to continue the conversation today talking about more advantages and disadvantages to everyone in the adoption. So first of all, I want to talk about the advantages of open adoption to the birth parents. So, advantages for the birth parents include an increased ability to deal with grief and loss. There can be a real comfort in knowing how the child is doing. So, when an open adoption is established, and that was the birth parents' or birth mom's wish, that's usually the main reason. It just gives them comfort in knowing how the child is doing. It can give them a sense of control over the decision-making and placement since they get to actually meet and ultimately decide on the adoptive parents, this can give them peace about their decision. It can give them the potential for more involvement in the child's life and the potential to develop a healthy relationship with the child as they grow. Just overall, open adoption can help make the decision to place their child for adoption easier. There's also advantages of open adoption to adoptive parents. This includes the ability to pray for the birth parents by name with your children, or even pray with them. The potential for the relationship with the birth family, more understanding of your child's history, increased empathy for the birth parents, and practically easier access to medical information and records you might need. And then advantages to the adopted child with open adoption, direct access to the birth parents history. The need to search for birth parents is eliminated. You can identify questions that are more easily answered such as who do I look like or why was I placed. And, it can ease feelings of abandonment since the birth parent is still reachable and it helps lessen fantasies like they know the birth parents are real. And it increases their circle of supportive adults in their life. It increases the likelihood of biological family relationships. And in transracial adoption, it gives them exposure to racial and ethnic heritage and that is a really big deal. Now let's talk about some disadvantages of open adoption. So disadvantages of open adoption to birth parents is a potential disappointment if the adoptive family cannot meet all the expectations or needs, or they choose not to later or maybe they have to move. They don't send the pictures like they said they would or the visits. So basically, if for whatever reason the adoptive parents don't continue the contact, that can be a disadvantage of open adoption because you've started that and then it's broken. Disadvantages to adoptive parents in open adoption could be potential pressure to accept openness or not be able to adopt especially with open adoption becoming more prominent. And then potential difficulty with unstable birth parents could be another one. Disadvantages for adopted children. Potential feelings of rejection if the contact stops. Another disadvantage of open adoption for adopted children could be a difficulty explaining the relationship to their peers, and a potential for playing the families against each other. Now, I want to talk about advantages and disadvantages of closed adoption to each person. Advantages of closed adoption to birth parents could be the privacy. Some feel that this provides a sense of closure and the ability to move on with their life. That's probably why our friend's birth mom chose to have a closed adoption, and probably much more. But that's probably one of the reasons. With closed adoption, an advantage to adoptive parents can be no danger or birth parent interference. Advantages of closed adoption to adoptive children can be protection from unstable birth parents. Okay, now let's look at disadvantages of closed adoption for everyone. So disadvantages of closed adoption for birth parents is less grief resolution, due to a lack of information about the child's well-being. They can't send an email and find out how they're doing. And that can be hard. Disadvantages in closed adoption for adoptive parents can be less empathy for the birth parents, no access to additional medical information about the birth family, and less control because the agency may control the information. So if you want to just find out something and you don't have contact, you can't just send an email or make a phone call and find out you may have to try to get information from the agency, and depending on confidentiality, you may not be able to get that information. Disadvantages of closed adoption to the adopted children are possible adolescent identity confusion because they're unable to compare physical and emotional traits to their birth families, limited access to information that others take for granted, and a potential preoccupation with adoption issues because so much is unknown. If you are in the process of adoption or thinking about adoption, but maybe you're a little bit overwhelmed with all there is to learn specifically some of the adoption terms, that you just don't know what they all mean, I get it. I remember learning so much when we were going through the process. And just knowing some of the terms would have gone so far, to just helping me feel more educated and understanding what people were talking about at the agency, and just in any conversations around adoption. So, because of that, I have created a free download of adoption definitions. This is a two-page quick Glossary of the most common terms you will come across while going through the adoption process. This can go a long way in just helping you feel more educated when talking to others about adoption. You can find this in my resource library by going to fortheloveofadoption.com. Scroll to the bottom of the homepage, and you'll see the link for the resource library there where you are going to be able to get this PDF but also many others that can help you along with your adoption journey. I know what's going to help you feel more educated go grab that today. So open and closed and its options obviously are very different. And although there are some advantages and disadvantages to each type, again, open adoption has gained a lot of momentum in recent years. And it seems to be the healthier option when given the choice. However, it is important that you decide what level of contact you're okay with this can grow over time, but the level of openness can vary greatly. And in no way should you step into something that you are not prepared to step into or commit to something that you're not truly committed to. So just to give you a little look into our open adoption arrangement. When we first started pursuing adoption, we really thought we were only interested in closed adoption. Honestly, honestly, the idea of open adoption was extremely uncomfortable and scary even to us at the time. However, our agency informed us that more and more adoptions were at least semi-open. And many birth parents specifically request that adoptive parents are open to at least some level of contact. So many times again, birth parents just want to know that the child is doing well. And they want this reassurance of that throughout the child's life. When you really think about the fact that a birth parent who chooses to place their child for adoption, is making the hardest decision they'll probably ever make, you can understand why they'd want this small return. Our agreement after we gave it a lot of thought, we decided it might not be a bad idea to change our preferences to open if we could help decide how much openness we were okay with. We defined aspects we were comfortable with such as exchanging first names and setting up a private email account where we could send updates regularly. And some things we just weren't comfortable with and that included exchanging personal information, such as last names and addresses But now with our daughter being five and our son, almost four, we have shared last names and phone numbers. And we are now completely fine with that. The relationship just had to grow and get to the point where we were comfortable with that. And we saw that it was healthy and good. So again, our daughter's five, our son's almost four. And now that we have the relationship with their birth mom that we do, we really cannot imagine it being any other way. And we don't want it any other way. It's proven to be a great, amazing comfort and advantage. In addition, she would never, ever have reached out to us and asked us to adopt a second time, if we had not had an open adoption. And if she hadn't been comfortable with us and had a way to contact us directly. I truly, truly believe that because of our willingness to have an open adoption, and because of us living up to what we said we would and staying in contact with her, we have our son, I do not believe we would have him otherwise. Also, she's always telling us how happy she is that she chose us and that she could not be happier with her decision. That means more as an adoptive parent than I can express. That's huge. I want her to be happy with the decision she made, and to have an open adoption with her. And to know that that's how she feels it means so much. Because of our openness agreement with her, we were invited to attend the ultrasound where we learned that our baby boy would be a boy. And without it, we would not have had that opportunity. So now, you can never predict what the future will bring and whether the contact will remain steady. You just can't. Much of that depends on the birth parent. And many times, the birth parents may end up distancing themselves if they just feel it gets too hard. Or maybe life just gets in the way. Maybe they have to move. So many things can happen. But we want our children to know their whole story. We're not going to hold back part of their whole story when we have the opportunity to share it with them. At this time, we have an open invitation for her to let us know if she'd like to get together. When she wants to arrange something as soon as it works with our schedules, we do it. In addition, we send her regular updates and pictures via text message. We believe that the healthiest decision for our children is that they know their whole story as much as possible. We have told them from the beginning that she is their birth mom. And as much as they can understand that for their age, they do. This is going to help them be able to put the puzzle pieces together. We will do whatever we can to make that possible. And honestly, as they get older, it will ultimately be up to them to decide if they want to have a relationship with their biological family assuming the family is open to that. In the meantime, we will speak to our children about their birth mom in love. We will have visits with her for as long as she wants and as long as we're able to. And we will make sure that they know that she made the hardest decision of her life out of love. She made the hardest decision of her life out of love. We want them to know their whole story. And she is such a huge part of that. We do not feel right taking that from them for as long as they can have a healthy relationship with her. We are thankful for open adoption. We're thankful for her. And this is what's worked best for our family. Thanks so much for listening in today. And did you know that I offer a full library of free resources to help you along on your adoption journey, and I'm always adding more. This includes downloads of grant recommendations, adoption fundraising ideas, an agency questionnaire, a hospital checklist, and much more. You can find that by going to ForTheLoveOfAdoption.com and scrolling to the bottom of the homepage. And if you have an idea for something you'd love to see added to this library, please send me a message and let me know. I'm always looking for ways to help you on your adoption journey. If you enjoy Instagram, be sure to find me there @fortheloveofadoption, where I love to hang out and share live videos and plenty of adoption tips. I'm always excited to support you in your adoption journey. See you next time.  

Show Notes Episode 6: The Differences Between Open vs. Closed Adoption In this Episode Heather discusses: Open vs Closed Adoption Why open adoption has become more common The value of open adoption The importance of respecting birth parents Infant adoption Links Mentioned: fortheloveofadoption.com Adoption. It's surrounded with so much confusion and misinformation. And how many people never move forward with adoption because of this. Hi, I'm Heather. I'm not an adoption coach or consultant, and I'm not within adoption agency. I'm a mom to two amazing kids I've been blessed with through adoption. And on this journey, I've learned and continue to learn a lot. Most of all, I believe that if God has put adoption on your heart, it's there for a reason. And you shouldn't let all the stuff keep you from jumping in. I'm here to offer you hope and encouragement, and to talk about everything from types of adoption, things to know before you adopt, funding your adoption including grants, the home study process, making the most of your adoption wait, talking to your kids about adoption, and so much more. Adoption can be hard, but many of the best things in life often are. You know what, though? It can also be amazing! I'm here to share what I've learned. I hope hearing from someone that's gone this road before you encourages and motivates you to take a step of faith and see where it leads. I'm doing this all for the love of adoption. Let's dive in. Hello, and welcome to episode six of the For the Love of Adoption Show. I am really excited to dive into this topic today because it is so important. And, this is one of the things that there's a lot of confusion around and I really just want to share some things with you that I hope will help clear up some things in relation to open and close adoption. So, we're going to talk about open versus closed adoption. So, when making the decision to adopt one factor to consider is if you are going to be open to open adoption, or if you are going to be moving forward with closed adoption. So, what exactly is the difference? And how do you decide what is right for you and your family? First of all, let's talk about open adoption. An open adoption involves some degree of a relationship between the adoptive family and the birth family. This may just be with the birth mom, or it could include birth dad or even extended family. In open adoption, some identifiable information such as names may be shared, and it's up to you or you and the agency to work together to help establish boundaries. In the beginning, based on everyone's preferences, many times what's decided upon will be put into writing. So identifiable information might include first and last names, address, phone number, email address, and more. Or it could be as simple as first names and a private email address you set up that's just for you and the birth parents or the birth mom. Contact may include emails, text messaging, visits, etc. Some adoptions are more open than others or become more open as the relationship builds. And in that case, it could include visits. It could maybe be at the Agency office if you're using an agency. It could be a neutral location, like a park, or if you get to a certain point, it could even be in your home. But prior to the 80s open adoption was much less common. And it might just be that it was before the impact of birth parents and adoptees was really understood. But in addition, there was a fear that many associated with open adoption. I can identify with this because I was this way at first. However, over the last couple of decades, open adoption has become much more popular. And birth moms overall are more interested in this option. They will often request an adoptive family that is comfortable with this dynamic. The type of contact might be limited, but often some level of contact is desired. And it's really important to know that things might change. A birth parent may decide it's too hard and stop communicating. Or there might be other factors that come into play or it might be the opposite, where you start with very minimal contact, maybe just first names and email address. And then you start to get closer, and that relationship deepens and maybe start doing meetings. It's a really hard decision she's making and people can cope with it in different ways. So it's very important to be respectful of her and see you know what she wants and how she wants to go if you are okay with an open adoption. But because open adoption can look different in every adoption, there isn't one specific definition It really comes down to the wishes and the agreements made between the biological and the adoptive parents. In a fully open adoption, the biological family would most likely have direct contact with the child through methods such as email, phone calls, and visits. And of course, the adoptive parents are involved in these interactions. If anything wasn't in the best interest of the child, then you could obviously decide to modify that contact. You always would want to keep the child's interest at heart if there was something that was truly not healthy. So that's open adoption. In a closed adoption, there's little or no identifying information that's exchanged. And some birth parents may not even want to meet the adoptive parents. Many times adopted children want to learn about their birth family later. A closed adoption can make that more difficult. It seems though, to be in general now that closed adoptions usually present more negatives. And a good agency really should encourage the birth mother to request the amount of contact that she truly desires. As an advocate for her, they must consider her best interest as well as the child's and once these preferences have been defined, the agency's job is to work to match adoptive families and birth parents that desire the same level of communication. And this is often accomplished by allowing the birth mother or the birth parents to look through hopeful adoptive parents' profiles. And that could be in the form of a physical book or online, but to look through those who have agreed to the level of communication that she hopes to have. Are you wanting to learn more about newborn adoption and how that works? That is the type of adoption that we pursued. And I have created a 12-step guide to adopting a newborn. This can just help you know what steps you need to take in order to jump into this type of adoption. It can be overwhelming, but when you know what you need to do, what's step one, and then what is step two, it can go so far in helping you dive into this journey and really start making progress toward this dream. So again, I've created a free download that you can get in my resource library. To help you with this, just go to fortheloveofadoption.com. And scroll to the bottom of the homepage, you'll see an option there to get into the resource library. And you will get this download as well as many others to help you on your adoption journey. I know stepping into adoption, and particularly newborn adoption can be overwhelming. But I know this is just going to help you feel a little more prepared and know what you need to do to get started. So, go grab that free download today. Now, there are really pros and cons to both open and closed adoption. The biggest benefit to open adoption is most likely the connection your child could have with their biological parents. This is probably the biggest benefit. This can be especially important as your child grows up, and they're trying to determine who they are and understand their identity. It's hard being someone who's not adopted to really understand that. So, you really have to try to step out of your shoes and imagine not knowing where you came from. This is a big deal. It can take so much of the mystery out of the adoption and help them get answers to questions that they are sure to have. And another practical benefit is that if you have a relationship with a biological parent if you ever have any medical questions, you can simply go ask them. It's really important to understand that an open adoption in no way takes away from your rights as an adoptive parent. It is an addition, not a subtraction. Open adoption is a way to keep the tie between your child and their biological family. If that relationship can be maintained in a healthy manner, it can be an amazing benefit to both your child and your entire family. And I personally would go as far as to say, if that relationship can be maintained in a healthy manner, it's our responsibility to foster that and not to take that away from them. Now closed adoption in comparison, closed adoption is when your family will have no contact with a biological family. So, on the surface, this may sound appealing in some ways. My advice is if you feel this way, just analyze why it's appealing. Is it because it's what you feel is best? Is it really what you feel is best for whatever reason for you and more importantly, your future adopted child? If it is, it may be a good time to think and pray about what God's best is. And just make sure this isn't a decision being made out of fear. In the past, people often chose closed adoption, but again open adoption is now becoming much more common and from what I've seen, it's the norm now, I think it's because when a family researches, really researches they realize the benefits typically outweigh the cons. However, you might find some birth parents that prefer closed adoption. We have friends who've never met their child's biological parents because that was the birth mother's wish, not theirs. They would love to have an open adoption, but it's just not an option for them. At least not at this time. Again, you really have to look at the pros and cons. The benefits of an open adoption can include your child having the opportunity to learn about their biological parents, which can remove a lot of the questions and mystery. It can help them with their identity and their self-confidence, protection for your child against a sense of abandonment. The ability of your child to communicate with their birth family can help limit the sense of abandonment that many adopted children often do experience this. It takes away an absence of a need to search. If your child already has a relationship with their birth family, it eliminates their need to search and an open dialog about any medical issues that may arise. Sibling connections, there's a chance your child may have siblings they would not otherwise have the chance to know if open adoption is not chosen. It gives them affirmation. In an open adoption, it's typical that the birth parents choose you. So, knowing that you met them in person, and you were the ones they chose, can add to the feeling of certainty that this child was meant for you. It can reduce some fear for some adoptive families, the uncertainty surrounding the birth parents can be heavy. With open adoption, the communication with the birth parent can help ease any apprehension. And in transracial adoption, a connection to the birth parents can provide your child with an important connection to learn about their ethnicity. With that said, how exactly does open adoption work? Again, it can vary for each family. You might agree on annual updates and photos or perhaps even regular phone calls or visits. It's really again, up to the birth and adoptive family, often with the help of an agency to define these parameters. The goal is that everyone involved is as happy as possible with the agreement and that it is in the best interest of the child. So, in our case, we have an open adoption with our children's birth mom. And for us, this is very relaxed. It started with an email account set up just for us to send pictures to her regularly and us agreeing to meet a couple of times a year. But it grew to the point where we've now exchanged personal phone numbers and we text rather than email, always texting her new pictures. And we're completely comfortable with that. It took us a couple of years before we got to that point. But we're good with it. Now, we also do visits when it works. We even went to an amusement park this summer, and it was so much fun. We never push. We leave the decision up to her. And sometimes she'll reach out to see how we're doing and see when we can get together, and we'll get something planned. A good idea is to talk to your adoption professional or the agency you're working with so that you can really ask any questions you have. And also talking to other families that have an open adoption can be a great way to learn more. Just remember that just because one adoptive family's open adoption looks a certain way, that doesn't mean that's what yours is going to look like. And the good news is that you get to help determine what you want the agreement to look like. So next time, we are actually going to dive into advantages to the birth parents, advantages to the adoptive parents, as well as the adopted children, and disadvantages to all of these. So, I think that once you hear that as well, it's going to really give you a full picture of open versus closed adoption. So, if you're on the fence trying to make a decision, this can help explain a bit more and help you choose what's right for your family. So, I look forward to diving into that conversation with you next week. Thanks so much for listening in today. And did you know that I offer a full library of free resources to help you along on your adoption journey, and I'm always adding more. This includes downloads of grant recommendations, adoption fundraising ideas, an agency questionnaire, a hospital checklist, and much more. You can find that by going to ForTheLoveOfAdoption.com and scrolling to the bottom of the homepage. And if you have an idea for something you'd love to see added to this library, please send me a message and let me know. I'm always looking for ways to help you on your adoption journey. If you enjoy Instagram, be sure to find me there @fortheloveofadoption, where I love to hang out and share live videos and plenty of adoption tips. I'm always excited to support you in your adoption journey. See you next time.

This is the first interview in a series called 'The Secret Club of Adoption' with co-host Julie Morris.  Julie was adopted and adopted a child herself.  We interview her brother, Chris Curtin, to learn about his adopted life.  These interviews teach about adoption and help others realize there is 'A Secret Club of Adoption' that isn't spoken about or shared about enough.

Birth Mother Matters in Adoption Season 2 Ep.174: Family Choices Adoptive families will encounter the adoption step pf developing their adoption family preferences.  Adoptive families need to look at what the best match for their family will be.  Additionally, adoptive families need to understand what factors; internal and external may factor into their decsion.  Adoption family preferences are a huge factor in the path their adoption journey will take.  Listen to how surrounding factors may influence the adoption journey and ways to open adoption preferences.

Birth Mother Matters in Adoption Season 2 Ep.169: The Value of Open Adoptions Listen and learn about the value of open adoptions for all members of the adoption triad.  Listen to why an open adoption can positively impact every memebr of the adoption triad, how it can also positively impact the understanding of society's understanding of adoption.

I really think learning from adoptees about how they form connections with nonbiological parents is a good way to learn about human connection in general - the impacts of having it, not having it, and how to form it, even in possible trying circumstances while navigating trauma and strong, negative emotions.That's why we're talking to adoptee Mike Hutchinson today. He's a preacher, husband, son, avid reader, podcast host, and returning guest to Human Amplified. On the surface of this episode, Hutch takes us through his closed adoption story and what it was like meeting his biological family. Underneath, we really explore the interconnectedness of relationships, the impact of relationships on identity and emotions, and how they influence other relationships and life path choices. Through this, we specifically discuss fear, struggling with rejection, bullying, finding ways to connect when differences are aplenty and in the absence of a biological connection, healing from abandonment, fork in the road moments where snap judgements have to be made, and the importance of your support system. Through all this, several interesting points jump out at me: Issues around fear and rejection seem to have rippled out from one defining moment Hutch had when he was 5 years old which sparked the realization that he was given away by someone. This pivotal moment demonstrates the power of our words in relationships.One theme that arises throughout is how masculinity and femininity plays a role in those connections - at least the connections in Hutch's life and his experience of adoption and maintaining relationships. A subtle yet important take away from this episode is the importance of timing. Timing is everything. See if you can catch how timing helped Hutch's success in reuniting with his biological family AND how he met his wife.I alway enjoy hearing Hutch's personality come through in his storytelling. He laughs a lot while we talk and is generous with immersive details. So, I know you'll enjoy it too.

Filmmaker and journalist Barbara Sumner was adopted in 1960 and at the age of 23, embarked on a search to find her birth mother. The system made this all but impossible, and Sumner now campaigns for an overhaul of New Zealand's 'closed' adoption laws. She's chronicled her journey in a memoir Tree of Strangers. Sumner and her husband Tom Burstyn are the makers of the critically acclaimed 2009 documentary film, This Way Of Life, about a family of horse breeders living near the Ruahine Ranges.

One of the most important concepts you need to think about when going through the adoption process is whether you want to have an open adoption, semi-open adoption, or a closed adoption. In this episode, I’m going to tell you more about it and the things you need to consider when making this very big decision.You need to figure out what’s going to be best for you, your child and your future. This is not an easy decision for people to make because there are so many considerations you have to think about. It’s important that you are able to equip yourself with knowledge. Read and research about it.It’s okay to have mixed feelings, that’s normal. But make sure that what you’re going to be okay with the choice you make because it’s going to affect you and your child for the rest of your lives.[07:47] In open adoptions, there’s a fully open relationship. It can be really open where you have contact with the birth mother or family on a weekly basis. The birth and adoptive families can exchange information, names, or even have get togethers.[07:59] In semi-open adoptions the communications go through an agency such as sending letters, pictures every so often. Sometimes, it can also be arranging meetings with the birth family. The agency serves as the mediator between the birth and the adoptive families.[09:43] Closed adoptions are more rare. There is no contact, information or exchange of anything. This mostly happens with international adoptions because children come from orphanages. But sometimes there are records on the birth family. Closed adoptions are very rare now in the United States.[11:14] At the time of the adoption, birth mothers or parents decide what kind of adoption they want. This was originally not put into law until recently. It has been made part of the legal adoption agreement because some people have not been following through on what they originally talked about.[12:25] You have to know what kind of adoption you’re okay before adopting. Adoption and agreements are not a one size fits all model.[14:50] Some moms love open adoption but there are others who feel threatened by it. On the adoptive mom’s side, it can cause a lot of stress and anxiety.[16:15] If you are entering into the adoption process, ask yourself what your comfort level is. You have to be okay with what you decide on because you have to live with it for the rest of your life.[17:57] Adoption is always a journey. What’s best for a child may be different from a teenager’s. This is why we can’t have a one size fits all model because you want to have an open dialogue with your child as they grow.[18:40] It is important to tell your child that they are adopted and to talk about it from a young age.[20:42] In closed adoptions, sometimes there’s really no choice. It’s either they were adopted internationally or their birth mother or parents don’t want to have contact. It is sometimes hard for children as they grow older to not be able to understand where they come from, who their birth parents are. At some point, a child will want to know these things. To not have this information is really difficult on a kid.[21:56] In a semi open adoption, there are also cases where birth mothers don’t want to have contact. WIth agencies, you can still send photos and they still keep records of the birth mother’s name. At some point in time, your child will still have access to that.[24:20] As a psychologist, I come from the philosophy of everyone has a different experience because we’re always going to look out for the best interest of the child.[25:28] When you are filling out the paperwork and deciding what adoption is right for you, consider these things - what you want and what you are comfortable with. These are hard decisions to make. Read about it, do you research, and make your decision based on the best interest of the child. Links: Cynthia Hawver Website Cynthia Hawver Facebook Cynthia Hawver Instagram Cynthia Hawver LinkedInEmail: drcynthia@soulfuladoption.comFreebie: The Top 10 Things I Wish I Knew When Going Through The Adoption Process

November is National Adoption Awareness Month, an annual observance to raise awareness about the urgent need for adoptive families for children and youth in foster care who are in need of a family. Motherhood looks differently for all mothers, and in this episode Alana and Xia highlight how Real Moms Adopt Too! In episode 29, Real Moms Too interview Shawndra Onwuchekwa, mother who adopted a 2 year old daughter. Shawndra shares why she and her husband decided to adopt, details what the process was like, and provides listeners with some tips on how they too can become an adoptive parent one day.To join the conversation, visit RMT social media pages:REAL MOMS TOO FACEBOOKhttps://www.facebook.com/RealMomsToo/REAL MOMS TOO INSTAGRAMhttps://www.instagram.com/realmomstoo/

Your adoption choice, open, semi-open or closed, is one hundred percent your choice. An uplanned pregnancy and an adoption choice does not have to mean that you never see your child again.  If you are on the fence as to deciding between an open or a closed adoption, most birth and adoptive parents find that speaking and meeting with one another before making a commitment, helps them to decide whether to move forward with an adoption plan. Meeting in person allows the birth and adoptive parent(s) to get to know one another and often provides the birth parent(s) with the confidence of knowing that they have selected the best family for their child. Many birth parents who have ongoing contact with the adoptive family, find that receiving information about the child and knowing that the child is thriving, helps to ease their feelings of loss. Birth parents and adoptive parents can decide to communicate directly with one another before, during, and after the adoption process is complete. That contact can take place in many different ways including through the exchange of emails, letters, phone calls, Skype calls, and in-person visits. If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and considering adoption, a licensed adoption agency is your best option. Local licensed adoption agencies can meet with you face to face, hold your hand when needed, and can remain with you throughout your pregnancy. In addition, you can visit your case worker after placement. Lastly, a local licensed adoption agency will be able to assist you with resources in your area and may even be able to provide transportation when needed.  Building Arizona Families is a licensed adoption agency that can walk with you every step of the way.  We would love to hear from you to find out how we can help.  You can call us 24/7  or text us 24/7 at 623.695-4112.

This week Brit and Whit interview Amy about what it's like trying to adopt a child. Amy talks about how her and her husband came to that decision and what the process is of getting a child through adoption. There are many ups and downs to Amy's story you don't want to miss but bring a tissue.

Under the 1955 Adoption Act,  thousands of Māori babies were adopted into Pākehā families. Te Aniwa Hurihanganui investigates the impact on Māori who grew up desperate to re-connect.

In this episode, we talk with Christa Jordan about navigating a closed adoption. Her son Kai joined their family by way of international adoption from Japan at five months old. We discuss the struggles and complexities of a closed adoption, as well as some practical tips to navigate it all.  If you are an adoptive parent or adoptee who finds yourself in a closed or semi closed adoption where limited information is accessible, this episode will be helpful for you!  Christa is also the author of the Before You Adopt workbook. If you’re considering adoption, this is a valuable resource. Learn more at www.spoonfulofjordan.com/shop We would love to connect with you on social media:  Christa Jordan: @spoonfulofjordanblog Macie Perreault: @adoptwell Amy Bagwell: @ahbagwell Before you go, please leave an honest review and share your thoughts on social media with #AdoptWellPodcast.  www.AdoptWell.com

Writer and comedian Meg Joh comes on to talk about adoption! Meg and her two sisters are adopted. She shares her firsthand experience to show how great adoption has been for her and her family. She thinks how everyone should consider it! She goes into detail about some of the different types of adoption and points out discrimination towards adoption that is still present throughout the world. We should try and change that. Cassi also discovers she wants to adopt a nerdy 12 year old who loves cats. This is a very thoughtful and fun episode. Enjoy!   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Guest: Michele Grebe One woman’s story about her closed adoption. Michele shares how she feels that knowing from a young age that she was adopted has made her a better person. The post An Adult Adoptee of a Closed Adoption appeared first on Let's Talk Adoption.

How does Adoption work?  Can the Birth Mom ‘take the baby back’? Is the birth mom or birth dad involved in Parenting the kids? And how do you navigate the relationship with the birth mom? In this Episode Traci-Ann and I discuss: why she decided to adopt as a Single Mom at the age of 40 and how she was placed quickly with her daughter Arielle  some of the biggest Myths about Adoption  the difference between the Closed Adoption of the past and the Open Adoption system now why Traci-Ann wants to make sure her daughter doesn’t feel any shame about her adoption A Beatiful Quote About Adoption “Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother.”-Oprah Winfrey Some of the Biggest Myths About Adoption Myth: The birth moms are irresponsible or ‘bad’ girls.  Truth: Their actions that got them pregnant may not have been responsible, but their decision to find a famiily to raise their baby absolutely was incredibly repsonsible. Myth: The birthmoms ‘give away’ their babies. Truth: The birth moms make an incredibly difficult and courageous decision to place their babies with another family. Myth: Your (adoptive) kids are so ‘lucky’ to have you as parents.  Truth: As adoptive parents, WE are the lucky ones.  We did not adopt out of charity, and are so incredibly grateful to the birth moms who chose us. Myth: The birth moms ‘give up’ their kids and don’t love them.  Truth: It is because of the love they have for their kids, that they decide to place their kids with a mom or family when they are not yet ready to be a mom. They have not given up on their baby, but have made this difficult decision out of love. What Traci-Ann Would Like Others to Know About Adoption You can love your child as an adoptive mom as if it was your own, and bond with them from the moment you first meet. There is no shame in adoption, and no need to hide it from your kids.  Tell them the truth.  It is their history.  Adoption is a blessing. Related Mom at 41 Episodes Episode 2: First Time Mom: Tyson’s Story Episode 3: Kai’s Story: The 36 Hour Roller Coaster Ride to Becoming a Mom Again Episode 10: Adoption From A to Z Episode 16: My Family is Weird How Can you Connect with Traci-Ann?   Twitter  Instagram Traci-Ann’s Website Email: TraceElaine@gmail.com Mom at 41 Facebook Page Like the Mom at 41 Facebook Page here and read my posts of Inspiration and Support each day, and from all the other Mommas in the Mom at 41 Community! I respond to every single comment, post, and message here, and would love to Connect with you! Mom at 41 Newsletter Subscribe to the Mom at 41 Newsletter here to get Real Momma Stories of Struggle, Inspiration, and the Life Lessons Along the Way! Plus, I’ll update you when NEW Blog Posts come out, and also send you the Balanced Mommy Checklist to help you de-stress, be a better mom, and take care of YOU!