Adoptee Stories
And How Reunification Helped With Closure
Adoption is a beautiful, life-changing journey for everyone involved. As you’re thinking about pursuing domestic adoption, it’s important to understand how your child’s life will be shaped by this process. Every adoptee will have a different experience that impacts their adoption story.
There are many unique rewards and challenges that you and your child may face. Even though adoption can be filled with joy and beauty, many adoptees also struggle with grief, loss and grappling with what their adoption story means for their identity.
We’ve compiled some adoptee stories to help you understand just how important open adoption can be for your child. It can give them a better understanding of their adoption journey.
If you have any questions about the domestic infant adoption process, then you can fill out this contact form to get more free information now.
Why You Should Talk About Your Child’s Adoptee Story
There is no doubt that adoption is complex, and there are many emotional highs and lows that come with it. Understanding adoptee stories will help you support your child and celebrate their adoption journey. As you’re thinking about adoption, it’s important to recognize how open adoption can affect your child’s view of their adoption.
One study revealed that adoptees, regardless of the level of openness in their adoption, were curious about their birth families.
“For most of my life, I had wondered about my birth mother,” adoptee and American Adoptions staff member Jennifer Van Gundy said. “Was she OK? Did she have a healthy adoption process? I got the answers to these questions and those about my personal health history, and we’re tentatively getting to know each other better through our new contact.”
Talking about adoption openly with your child is the best way to show them that adoption is normal and that they can always come to you if they have any questions about their adoptee story.
The Benefits of Open Adoption for Your Child
Just a few decades ago, closed adoption was the norm. This meant that no identifying information was shared between the two families, making it almost impossible for birth parents and adoptees to connect. This is why many search-and-reunion adoptee stories exist. Years later, there are many adoptees who want to connect with their birth parents.
Another goal of reunification is that adoptees want to get answers about their background and health history. This helps them fill in the gaps of their adoptee stories.
“I do admit I had a lot of questions growing up,” Jennifer said. “From a medical standpoint, my health history ended when I was born. I didn’t have anything else beyond that for most of my life. Like all adoptees, I had questions about my birth parents and feelings of shame over not being wanted, especially because I had no information about my birth mother’s adoption decision.”
An Adoptees’ Story of Love and Opportunity
Scott Mars was adopted at just 10 days old. Every day, Scott realizes just how important he is to his parents and that it doesn’t matter that he was adopted. All that mattered to him was that his parents found a way to become parents.
“In the end, all your pain and doubt will wash away the first moment your baby snuggles in your arms,” Scott Mars said. “It will not matter how you became parents – it will only matter that you did.”
Scott’s parents Ted and Susan Mars wouldn’t have had it any other way. The love that is shared between them is no greater than that of a biological child and their parents. Knowing how influential adoption can be and how much love comes from choosing this path, the Mars family wanted to give back.
“In an effort to give back some of the love we gained from adoption, we provided foster care services for over 140 babies through the years.” Scott said.
While this was a great experience for the Mars family, they decided to take it one step further by starting American Adoptions. Today, American Adoptions has helped 13,000 families navigate through their adoption journey to find their forever family.
“Each adoption is our way of saying thank you for the life we have been blessed with.” Scott said.
Read Scott’s full adoption story here.
To read more adoptee stories, visit our testimonials page. If you’re interested in beginning the adoption process, then you can fill out this contact form to get free adoption information now. We’d be happy to help!
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