Another late post! More than an hour is left in the day this time though. I meant to get a post up earlier, but for some reason I ended up on an adoption forum that I haven't visited for quite a while. I don't know what possessed me tonight to visit there as it always makes me sick with their "adoption is rainbows and sunshine" outlook. I think I may find myself reprimanded by a few of the good people there after a couple of replies I couldn't help but make! Any mother considering adoption that finds that group will never hear the truth of adoption there. There are a couple that try, but the PAP's and adoptive parents are right there negating anything truthful that is said.
I often struggle when writing about the ills of adoption. After all, I myself at one time believed all the adoption myths. How many people in my life looked at adoption as a good thing because I went on with my life and pretended like everything was ok? I know a few other mothers that choose adoption after I did. Could I have had any part in their decision? I pray not. But I also fear that I did them a disservice by pretending like everything was fine, by not living the truth of adoption loss & grief.
I also struggle because I, as a mom who chose adoption, was not fully a "victim" of the adoption industry. I went into this on my own accord. I fed the machine that is adoption, willingly. I feel a tinge of guilt every time I read about the hurt caused to an adoptee by adoption. Because I was one who believed that adoption was best.
It is my son who had no voice in any of this. It is the children that are the innocent victims in the world of infant adoption. And isn't adoption supposed to be about the children?
Isn't it not supposed to matter what kind of hell I live in, how broken I am? As long as my son got a "better" life? With a mother AND a father? Who were/are financially stable? Who were ready and waiting to be parents?
I chose adoption because I wanted better for my son, not because I wanted better for me. If the decision had been made for my best interest, I would have raised my son.
My son did have a wonderful childhood, he has parents he loves as much as they love him. He has great love for his entire extended adoptive family. He has had life experiences I couldn't have given him. He has said he is grateful for the life I gave him, by giving him up for adoption. He can't imagine life any different. And isn't that what I hoped and prayed for?
So, who am I to bitch?
Suzie- you had no idea as to how adoption would affect yourself or your son.
ReplyDeleteEveryone's experience and stories count. Your story may help another mother who is going through a pregnancy with pressure to surrender. Your voice IS needed.
I think that by being honest and open like this, you honor your adoption experience. You tell it like it is. The world needs to hear the good, bad and the ugly. The adoption community has not done a very good job in supporting birthmothers (yes some have but it's been few and far between). I placed three months ago and my agency has fallen off the face of the earth...even in a "modern day, semi-open, rainbows and butterflies adoption" it still hurts. I agree with Linda, your voice is needed.
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