Its been almost 6 months since I've written.... I am not sure what to write today. Computer-less for almost 6 months. Thoughts building up for almost 6 months. And today, I don't know what to say.
So, to be honest, today I hate adoption.
Today, I hate being a birth mother. I hate the supposed "birth mom bond" that is supposed to unite birth parents. I hate that I got involved in the adoption community. Today, I just hate it. Its been months of feeling so much anger and disgust. Not just for others, but for myself as well.
6 months after placing, LDSFS had set up a plan for updates. For the first 3 months, I got pictures and letters once a week. Since I, apparently, lived in the stone age, we communicated by letters, in the mail. Pictures were printed and sent with the letter. I had usually 5 or more pictures with each letter. They updated me on how E was doing, and how they were doing. For three months, I very much needed to know how he was. I needed that affirmation to keep my head on straight. I needed to know that my decision was right. I knew that he would have been in such a toxic atmosphere those first 3 months(had I parented). But, I still needed to know that he was OK(even if Ii knew he was). Every letter, every picture, eased so much pain and FEAR. I SAW the joy in each face in each picture. I saw him being held, cherished, loved, adored, and carefully cared for. He was perfection, and so were his family.
The next 3 months I received pictures every other week. With each letter that arrived in the mail, more and more anxieties, fears, and pains were diminishing, many had been extinguished completely. He was smiling, giggling, chubby, blondie, blue eyed, and the most handsome little boy EVER. NO BATTLE. I grew more and more love for his mom and dad, more and more love for his grandmas and grandpas, and for the every growing testament of the peace of where he was. He was home.
I owe SO SO SO SO SO much of my healing, my happiness, and my love for adoption, to his amazing mom and dad. I was able to heal, to move forward, and grow because of their promises kept, and promises made. Because they allowed me to know where he was, to know he was OK(with boundaries included) I was able to have peace fill my soul.
I went out with a dear birth mom friend this week. My heart broke, tears were shed, and anger filled my heart towards people who "owe" so much to her. I say that and then want to smack myself because they don't owe her. Adoptive families don't owe us anything. You don't owe a birth parent anything. We made the choice, we made the plan, we followed through. We chose to sign relinquishment papers, we chose to not be mom. BUT, in that, we are still a mom, we still love them with every single ounce of our being.
Though you don't owe us "anything", you do owe us something. By sacrificing every bit of human nature because we love our children. Because we broke every ounce of mothering instinct to place those babies into the arms of the families that were supposed to be, we truly, TRULY, deserve respect. I know there are lines, I know every situation is different. I AM NOT BLIND to the crazy, to the alcoholic, to the mentally incapable, to the drugged... there are situations where you can be respectful but have to have VERY tight and closed boundaries.
What I can say, is that though adoption will not be "them" it will not define them completely, it will be HUGE part of who they are. Because of adoption, they have a home, they have a family. Because of adoption they aren't biologically the same... so that will cause medical situations. It will be a part of them. My numerous adopted friends(since before I became a birth parent) say that adoption is a part of them, not defining them, but a part of them.
Adoption, for birth parents, doesn't define us either. It doesn't say what kind of person we are because we became pregnant and chose to place a child for adoption. It doesn't make us sluts, or whores, or druggies, or terrible horrible no good people. It doesn't make us all crazy, or angry, or ruined. For many, it helps us find out who we really are. For many it made us open our eyes to what we REALLY wanted in life. For many, it was the only way back to Him.
Respect us. Love us. You can do so with boundaries. UPDATE your birth families. Let them know how those littles are doing, how YOU are doing. Let them know they are healthy and happy. Let them know that they are THRIVING. Why should you do this? Because without knowledge, we are left empty. We are left to question the very thing we chose. We are left in wonder of their health, their bonding, their well being. Update, because those pictures and letters, even if its a quick text, or short 1 paragraph email, THOSE HEAL. Those pictures were a CONSTANT reaffirmation of RIGHT. They were always there to set my aching heart back to peaceful. I KNEW he was fine, and he was where he was supposed to be.
So... we can even go a step further...
VISITS --
They happen. Crazy right. I mean, how can someone "give away" their child and then expect a visit? No, this is not a like a divorce. No, we do not share parenting responsibilities(nor should parenting responsibilities be shared). We do not get them "ever other weekend", or "for the summer" or whatever it is that divorcees have to deal with. BUT what there can be, are in person visits, to show love and care for all those involved in the adoption triad.
Could you believe, that when I saw that little boy for the first time, I was scared, and maybe a little heartbroken? I had waited 2 years to see him in real life again, and when I did, I realized he wasn't my little boy. That part was heartbreaking; that he grew up from my 3 day old baby. At three days old he became a member of his eternal family. I was scared because I didn't know how I would feel. I was scared that I would break down. That the connection with his parents wouldn't be there... Did you know, though, that as they walked forward with their families, all those fears were filled with pure and utter HAPPINESS and EXCITEMENT!!!! I couldn't have been more happy that he didn't have a clue who I was, and that he clung to his mom and dad. It was a dream come true. Could you believe that SO SO SO many holes and questions and fears were healed. HEALED!
I could have gone the rest of my life with little to no contact after that day. Why? Because I saw, first hand, that he was PERFECT. I have such a testimony of the power of prayer, of faith, and of God answering questions. That moment strengthened me, and showed me much of what I had lost when I became pregnant. That day, helped me... find me.
When people say that they have never seen their birth child/children after placement, it breaks my heart. Only, because I know what it did for my heart, my soul, and my mind. It breaks my heart because even thought they say they are ok(which i know there are some who are truly ok) they aren't. I can't say that every single birth parent deserves a visit.... we all know when they shouldn't or can't. But, in a lot of cases, we just would love to see them WITH YOU. Pictures are wonderful, letters are amazing, and texts are like Christmas morning, but being able to see them, with our own eyes.... PEOPLE I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT IT DID FOR ME. There are no words to express it. There is no way to show it. But I can STILL feel it, when I think about it.
So why do I Hate adoption today... because I hate adoption for my families, who just want to see those families. Who just would love to sit down and watch y'all interact, and be a family. I hate it for so many other reasons right now too...
I know I don't have people reading this a lot... I think that is good because it wasn't my desire for this... and it is going to be very sporadic writing anymore. I am pulling out of the adoption community. I need out. I need a break. I need solace. I need peace. I am lucky to know the people I do because of adoption. I am lucky to be friends with so many now. I'll keep those intact... but I can't put this out there anymore. Not like I have been. Its kinda ruined me lately. And I hate it. So ... for my last post for however long... Adoptive families(who are REAL families) I hope you can see and hear what has been written. I know that you know what will work, what is possible, what is right. But I also hope that hearts will be softened and that you'll be able to let a visit happen, or even be able to send those pictures they are so desperately needed. They will heal. They will give peace. They will save.
