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This post is by Maxine Chalker, the founder of Adoptions From The Heart and an adoptee. It would be odd, if not inhuman, to approach an open adoption with perfect rationality—a cool head and nothing else. No matter how placid we appear on the surface, everyone enters this strange new world of parenting with their own fears and concerns. Developing strong relationships is the most important project in any open adoption. It’s also the part that most of us, whether biological

This guest post is by Bob Spears, who is married to a birthmother. Although birthmothers have husbands and partners, it’s not every day that you hear from them. That’s because many of them are not directly involved in their loved one’s adoption story. But I’ve found that not being involved in your loved one’s story is not easy or healthy in a relationship. Placing a child for adoption has a great impact on not only a birth mother’s life, but on

This guest post is by Stacy, an adoptive mother.  It’s been three years since I adopted my daughter, and I just realized I have never told her birth story. Initially I put off telling it because I was just too shellshocked and concerned about her birthmother. But it’s a story that still sits inside me, waiting to be told. So I’m going to try to share it now—to capture that transformative experience in words. I hope her birthmother will read

This guest post is by Amanda Jane Avis, a single adoptive mother. It all began with a phone call to my mom. “Hello?” she said. “Mom!” I said. “Ok, you and dad have to meet me at Long Beach Airport in about five hours. I’ll send you the flight info in a minute. I, um can tell you…” “What? Why? You just got to Austin, I thought.” “Mom! Yeah, yeah! I arrived six days ago, but please just pick me

This guest post is by Crystal Byrd, a birthmother. I placed my birth daughter in an open adoption 18 months ago. It was the most rewarding yet challenging decision I ever made. When you do an open adoption you plan to still be involved in the child’s life — to get updates, pictures, visits etc. My personal opinion is that it benefits all members of the adoption triad– the child, the birth parents and the forever parents. The child never

This guest post is by Andrea, a birthmother. When I was pregnant and considering adoption, I had a lot of family members and friends who didn’t know what to say or do or how to support me. I try not to hold it against them but it was a difficult time for everyone all around. I know that it isn’t always easy to “be there” for someone who is considering an adoption placement or has made a plan. Unless you’ve experienced it

This guest post is by Leah Outten, a birthmother.  It’s a beautiful thing when worlds collide for a purpose. Much like a divine intervention can happen within an adoption relationship where a birth mom finds the perfect adoptive parents for her child, friendships happen over adoption, too. In this case, three women came together with different stories, yet one passion at the core of their message to the world: Adoption. The dream started with the Founder of Talk About Adoption,

This guest post is by Chemene, an adoptive mother and adoption support group leader.  Author’s note: When I wrote this article in 2016, I was in a different mindset in my adoption journey. As a leader of a diverse group, I have listened and learned over the last few years and discovered that my thoughts were only about myself; that my feelings only included myself. I never thought about how my words and language could be perceived as harmful and disrespectful by

This guest post is by Tennille, an adoptive mother.  For as long as I can remember I have desired to be a mom. Although it was difficult, I am thankful for our long struggle with infertility because it led us to our son! Through sharing our open adoption journey I’ve seen friends go from struggling through infertility to adopting, birth families who have no relationship with the adoptive family to building a friendship. When there is a desire in your

This guest post is by Deanna Kahler, an adoptive mother and author. I never dreamed that both of my pregnancies would end in miscarriage. It wasn’t part of my plan. As a young woman, I thought I had everything all figured out. I would have two children by the time I was 30 — one girl and one boy. It seemed like the perfect plan; only life had something else in store for me. When I found myself still childless