Yes, if I am trying to be completely honest and self aware, then I have to admit that some aspect of my motivation to do this work, my obsession with all things adoption, is a form of redemption. I can see that I am making up for the mistake of relinquishment, but I am not 100% sure who I am redeeming myself to.
How can we be “good” if we do relinquish, but “bad” for considering the act that would eventually be “good”? Does not the final goodness cancel out the bad?
First meeting of Dayton Ohio Adoption support group will be on June 19th, 2014 at Vandalia Rec Center.in Dayton, OH. Open to birth parents, adult adoptees, siblings, adoptive parents, and significant others In conjunction with Adoption Network Cleveland.
Grandma’s Experiences Leave a Mark on Your Genes with genome regulation and methylation, Why DO People Insist on Believing Things that Aren’t True and how to be heard- aka Online Attack For Choosing Adoption Is Not OK and Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Pregnancy in Prison plus a really kick ass comment!
Where: Rosendale Cafe 434 Main St.m in Rosendale, NY 12472 845.658.9048
When: June 13, 2014 – 8:00 pm
Why: An Evening with Mary Gauthier
Tickets: $20 at the Cafe ( get there early for a seat and get dinner! )
Sometimes, I literally surprise myself when I say things. I did that while on the show. If you note, I did mention the “skeleton” in the closet in my “before” writing. Rather expected and cliché, I know, but when I took it literally, as a real set of bones, which did mean that something died in the closet; then the visual became, I think, a powerful truth. If there is a real place called the birthmother Adoption Closet, then what really died inside was the mother we were supposed to be before surrendering.
On a day meant to honor motherhood, you can’t help thinking of the one you never get to see. You can’t help missing those who are missing from your life. Mother’s Day, like birthdays and holidays of any sort, become a time to reflect and wonder where your child is and who he honors on that day. Does he think of you? Does he wonder? What is his name and are his eyes as blue?
How to Come out of the Adoption Closet and Use Your Voice!
I’ll be chatting with my AAC roomie Adoptee LeAnne Parsons this Thursday May, 1st, 2014
So there is more info on the Facebook event, but in general consider it like an inside view of what Leanne and I talked about as we fell asleep each night in San Francisco at the AAC conference!
So Much Adoption in Just Five San Francisco Days. After going to more than a few adoption conferences, it might seem silly to say that they are life changing events. I mean, really, how many times can one’s life really change? But I have to say, that I did walk away with one giant realization when I got home.
What: Film Screening of A Girl Like Her” and Discussion with Filmmaker Ann Fessler
When: Thursday May 1st, 2014 at 6:00pm
Where: The Museum of Contemporary Photography (MoCP) Ferguson Lecture Hall, 600 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago IL http://www.mocp.org/events/event?id=257900
Bonus: Adoption Community AND Ann Fessler herself!
WHEN: Friday, March 29, 2014 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Adoption Network Cleveland 4614 Prospect Avenue, Ste 550 Cleveland, Ohio 44103
WHO: Adoptive, Foster or Birthparents
WHEN: Monday, March 24, 2014 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Adoption Network Cleveland 4614 Prospect Ave, Ste 550 Cleveland, Ohio 44103
WHO: Anyone interested in volunteering with ANC in any capacity.
At or around age 12, childhood is over.
And for birth mothers, it is obvious that we missed the whole thing. It’s over. Our child is in the final stages of growing up without us. Their whole childhood is gone. They grew up without us. It’s done.
Open Groups, Closed Groups and Adoption Discussion pages on Facebook for adoption support, question or just making noise and causing trouble. There are a whole slew of adopting groups and pages on Facebook, if you can’t find one that fits your needs, then you are just not social!
“Building Bridges for Change”
When: April 9th to 13th, 2014
Where: Parc 55 Wyndham San Francisco – Union Square 55 Cyril Magnin Street San Francisco CA 94102
Who: American Adoption Conference
Bonus: I’ll be there!