©Michael Bretherton 2007


In 2006, I finished writing my first book. Details will follow once they are available. Although I look forward to a month or so off, I hope to begin working on my second book soon. Book number two is my reunion story which I began writing a year or so into reunion. After writing fast and furiously for awhile, I stopped and put it aside.

A number of factors caused me to stop working on our reunion story. Working full-time and blogging keep me busy. Plus, I spend quite a bit of time with my grandchildren, and once in awhile my patient husband even has some time with me. Other opportunities popped up as well. There was also some hesitancy about putting our story out in the world.

However, Chris, the son I relinquished, has given his blessing to telling our story. He's even said that he might help me write it. Knowing that his schedule is even more frenetic than mine, I won't hold him to it. With his encouragement though, I am ready to plunge in and finish our reunion story.

Lastly, I hestitated to complete the book because I needed some assurance of a good ending. After five years of reunion, I now feel comfortable as I watch our reunion unfold that any ending will be a positive one.

In 2007, I hope to continue encouraging people separated by adoption to search, and reunite when possible. I also hope to encourage women considering placing children for adoption to fully inform themselves of the consequences before making such a life-altering decision. The best people to explain the effects of the loss of a child through adoption are those who have had the experience themselves.

In this blog, I will continue discussing issues that most birth parents face, and sometimes their children as well. My area of expertise is closed adoptions, but I sometimes touch on open adoption as well.

I would love any suggestions for issues that have not yet been discussed or need more discussion. Although I have some ideas, any new ones would be welcome.

In upcoming blogs,I hope to include:

1) Opening a closed adoption;
2) Society and Birth Mothers;
3) Favorite Blog Sites;
4) Unplanned pregnancies and options;
5) Ways to Heal;
6) The birth mother experience; and
7) A Question of the Week.

My husband gave me an iPod for Christmas and I am hoping that if I kept it permanently attached as I have the past few days, I will lose a pound or two by dancing around the house. Better yet, one of my sons gave us a gift certificate for dancing lessons for Christmas!