What's Best For The Child
A 15 year old girl wants to give her child up for adoption - and is OK with the adoptive family sending her the occasional photo - and telling the adoptee they're adopted when they hit 18!!
My response -
What's best for this child - number 1 - is to be parented by you.
If this can't be done - (I understand you are young - but parenting is not an impossibility) - then -
What's best for this child - number 2 - is to always know that they are adopted. They have a first mother that gave them life - that is where the child's looks, talents, likes and dislikes mostly come from - and the child needs to know that he/she came from YOU.
What's best for this child - number 3 - is to know YOU personally throughout their life. Not just photos and cards here and there - but to personally KNOW YOU. That is what OPEN ADOPTION is all about - and that is what is best for the child's self image and self concept. (photos from them is NOT an open adoption). No one can truly understand what their mother is like from hearing stories from another person - or just seeing photos. They need to talk to the person directly.
Then - you can explain to the child yourself - why you chose adoption - and help the child to understand better why they are adopted.
When we are honest with our children - they come to better understand the reasons behind what we do - and later have no reason to be angry.
Lies, secrets etc - equals a whole lot of anger down the track.
What's best for YOU - is to always be truthful and honest with this child - and with everyone else in your life. If you marry down the track - and be honest from day one - then if this child does want to know you more when they are an adult - then there will be no problem. There will be no shock return of the child you gave away. If your future partner has a problem with you having a child earlier - they do not love you - really. Any future partner should love all of you - and this child is part of you - whether you live with that child - or not.
You try to ignore that this child doesn't exist - that will eventually be more painful to you and to the child. And those two people are way more important than any future partner you will ever have.
Be strong - for you - for this child.
This is what is best for this child.
I'm an adoptee - I've lived it.
I was always told I was adopted - but I wasn't allowed to know my mother (only found her when I was 35) - and I always wanted to know. In fact - I daydreamed constantly about her - and about the reasons why.
I was told not to ever talk about it - which made it feel like my adoption was a 'bad' subject - and therefore I felt like my existence was 'bad'.
Be open, be honest, be truthful.
Open adoptions are NOT enforceable - meaning - if the adoptive family decides to never contact you again once the papers are signed - it's their right.
Be very careful about who you pick - both agency - and adoptive parents.
Don't commit totally to anything - until that child is born.
Do not let anyone guilt you into anything.
You have the right to parent if you wish - but if you don't want to - make sure you do this right.
I do hope you have some support around you - NOT the agency and adoptive parents - as they want your baby - they don't want you.
And if the adoptive parents don't want to tell the child they're adopted until they're older - or have no contact with you - they are the one's being cruel - as an adoptee needs to know this stuff - from day one.
We adoptees were not born in a cabbage patch.
We grew inside our mothers - we need to know our truth - we need to know the reasons why we were adopted - we need to know our mothers and other family members - if at all possible.
Being an adoptee means that we have 2 families - not just one. That is our reality.
Nothing wrong with that - it's just the way it is - and what's best for the adoptee - is to know - fully - both sides of their family.
I wish you and your babe all the very best that is in life.
My response -
What's best for this child - number 1 - is to be parented by you.
If this can't be done - (I understand you are young - but parenting is not an impossibility) - then -
What's best for this child - number 2 - is to always know that they are adopted. They have a first mother that gave them life - that is where the child's looks, talents, likes and dislikes mostly come from - and the child needs to know that he/she came from YOU.
What's best for this child - number 3 - is to know YOU personally throughout their life. Not just photos and cards here and there - but to personally KNOW YOU. That is what OPEN ADOPTION is all about - and that is what is best for the child's self image and self concept. (photos from them is NOT an open adoption). No one can truly understand what their mother is like from hearing stories from another person - or just seeing photos. They need to talk to the person directly.
Then - you can explain to the child yourself - why you chose adoption - and help the child to understand better why they are adopted.
When we are honest with our children - they come to better understand the reasons behind what we do - and later have no reason to be angry.
Lies, secrets etc - equals a whole lot of anger down the track.
What's best for YOU - is to always be truthful and honest with this child - and with everyone else in your life. If you marry down the track - and be honest from day one - then if this child does want to know you more when they are an adult - then there will be no problem. There will be no shock return of the child you gave away. If your future partner has a problem with you having a child earlier - they do not love you - really. Any future partner should love all of you - and this child is part of you - whether you live with that child - or not.
You try to ignore that this child doesn't exist - that will eventually be more painful to you and to the child. And those two people are way more important than any future partner you will ever have.
Be strong - for you - for this child.
This is what is best for this child.
I'm an adoptee - I've lived it.
I was always told I was adopted - but I wasn't allowed to know my mother (only found her when I was 35) - and I always wanted to know. In fact - I daydreamed constantly about her - and about the reasons why.
I was told not to ever talk about it - which made it feel like my adoption was a 'bad' subject - and therefore I felt like my existence was 'bad'.
Be open, be honest, be truthful.
Open adoptions are NOT enforceable - meaning - if the adoptive family decides to never contact you again once the papers are signed - it's their right.
Be very careful about who you pick - both agency - and adoptive parents.
Don't commit totally to anything - until that child is born.
Do not let anyone guilt you into anything.
You have the right to parent if you wish - but if you don't want to - make sure you do this right.
I do hope you have some support around you - NOT the agency and adoptive parents - as they want your baby - they don't want you.
And if the adoptive parents don't want to tell the child they're adopted until they're older - or have no contact with you - they are the one's being cruel - as an adoptee needs to know this stuff - from day one.
We adoptees were not born in a cabbage patch.
We grew inside our mothers - we need to know our truth - we need to know the reasons why we were adopted - we need to know our mothers and other family members - if at all possible.
Being an adoptee means that we have 2 families - not just one. That is our reality.
Nothing wrong with that - it's just the way it is - and what's best for the adoptee - is to know - fully - both sides of their family.
I wish you and your babe all the very best that is in life.
posted by Possum at 11:09 pm
11 comments
