While I've discussed how birth mothers and adoptive parents view Father's Day in varying ways, I saved the most important group for today: the adoptees. Like the other groups, their experiences vary widely! Quite a few individuals replied on the forums and I had a few e-mail me privately, saying that they didn't want to be attacked by others for their views. (Of note, a few birth... more

I was happy to see a news story out of Canada. Seems that some adoptees are going to be allowed to access their original birth records and, as such, find out the identities of their birth parents. I was really gearing to jump up and down as I started reading.

Ontario's new law will help adoptees find out what their original names were, as well as who their birth parents were. It could also help birth parents learn the name their child was given after he or she was... more

A recent (and frequent) discussion about the ways that birth parenting affects how we parent our children got me thinking. While it is true that being a birth mother has changed the ways in which I might have otherwise parented, I think that another train of thought needs to be visited. And so, I pose this question:

How does parenting affect your birth parenting?

While I maintain that I would have been a fine parent for the Munchkin, the truth remains that prior to the birth of my oldest son, I was somewhat clueless as to the ins, outs, whys and... more

My interest is always piqued when I see an article discussion adoption ethics. I am mostly familiar with the ethics in Ohio and Pennsylvania as those are two states in which I live. Apparently Oklahoma is a state known to have lax adoption laws but some lawmakers are hoping to change that fact.

In the article, this little piece of information alarmed me!

Eight years ago, Drwenski had a daughter, whose adoptive parents were surprised to be charged $30,000, including numerous hours... more

You can read two great write-ups of the hearing regarding HB7, the bill written to open adoption records for all adoptees in the state of Ohio as well as make open adoptions legally binding. In Dawn's post, we see that a representative "rolled his eyes" during an adoptees testimony about the bill being a civil rights issue. I wondered, "What kind of adult, representing any kind of constituent, would roll... more

As birth parents, we all have varying experiences. While some differences are because of generational changes, even those who placed in the same eras have differences due to any number of reasons. Those who placed in the Baby Scoop Era have different stories to tell than those who have placed in the past ten years as will each mother within each generation. And yet, there are similarities as well. Similarities from mother to mother, father to father and generation to generation.

And that's what this... more

Remember when I recently unleashed some verbal fury on Ohio, my state of residence, while reviewing Post-Adoption Contact Agreements? Well, I've got good news. Not only is the state addressing a bill that would change how open adoptions are viewed and dealt with but they're pushing to open records for all adoptees, not just those born prior to 1964. Yes, I'm kind of giddy about it.

As the bill itself is rather long and wordy, a look... more

I must say that this editorial article is a good read whether you are personally touched by Guatemalan adoption and their current reforms or not. In fact, if you're not really sure what all the hub-bub is about, the article offers some great insight as to why reform is necessary in a quick, easy to understand way. And yet, while reading, I began to ask the same questions about our country.

Let me quote the paragraph that got my wheels turning:

The larger... more

I've been silent about the title of this month. If you want to know my feelings on it, you can read my post from last year (as, once again, the President left a large group of people out of his proclamation). However, I'm all about raising awareness. That's never been a secret. While my series on post-placement adoption agreements... more

In case you didn't read a single adoption related blog (outside of our network) this weekend, I need to inform you about a video that is making its rounds on blogs (via YouTube, of course). It's an important video, especially to families touched by adoption. It focuses on adoptees, their rights and how those rights are trampled upon by their lack of access to pertinent information about their health history, their lineage and their birth.

You can watch the video here.

The video is entered in a contest for Dashboard Confessional's (a band) song, "Thick as Thieves."... more