Breaking Free: Finding Out Where You Came From
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Have you ever wondered about the twists and turns of your family’s history? Unearthing Roots: Finding Out Where You Came From is here to help you connect with that past. Through this unique journey filled with powerful discoveries, we will lead you on a fascinating search for information about your heritage. Come along and join us in exploring realms of family legends and true stories, forgotten facts, and newly-acquired insights – it’s certain to be a rewarding experience!
Statistics of Adoption and Finding out Where You Came From in the U.S.
Adoption in the United States is a big issue. According to statistics from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System, over 400,000 children were in foster care in 2019, of which nearly 122,000 were eligible for adoption. Among them, about 27% were adopted by relatives and 49% were adopted by non-relatives. Most of these children had been separated from their families due to abuse or neglect. Unfortunately, this means that a great number of children in the U.S. don’t have stable homes or supportive adults around them who can guide them through difficult times in life. Fortunately, those who are adopted find a new home where they are welcomed with open arms and shown love—and this kind of support has proven to be essential for an individual’s well-being.
- Statistics of Adoption and Finding out Where You Came From in the U.S.
- I Grew Up Knowing That I was Adopted
- The Nagging Curiosity I Had as An Adopted Child
- The Curiosity of Finding out Where You Came From
- The Letter I Received from My Birthmom When I Was 22
- How am I supposed to Feel After Hearing From My Biological Family?
- Reuniting with my Birth Family on My Golden Birthday: A Surreal yet Rewarding Experience
- Overcoming Adoption Anxiety to Establish New Connections
- A New Journey of Discovery and Self-Reflection: What it means to me now
- How Being Adopted Has Affected My Life
- How Being Adopted Affects You and How it May Affect How You Do Things
- My Sister’s Story and How Lucky I Am
- Marrying My “Other” Dad’s Best Friend
- When I Lost My Soulmate to Cancer
- The Dominoes of Death…Navigating through Grief After Losing a Birth Parent
- How Do You Live After So Much Death?
- The Silver Lining: What I Want Other Adoptees to Know
- A Message for my Birth Mom
- Finding Comfort in the Strength of Love
- Taking Control of My Future and Moving Forward with Hope
- A Message of Gratitude for My Adoptive Parents and Brother
- A Message To Anyone Who Is Struggling with Being Adopted
- Resources
- FAQ’s
Statistics of Being the Middle Child Put Up For Adoption
Being the middle child ripe for adoption was something very unique in my life. At the time of my birth, I had an older sister born just 14 months before me, and a younger sister after me 6 years later. Although my sisters were both kept by my birth mom, I ended up being the one put up for adoption. While it was difficult at times, I believe that it made me into the person I am today and taught me important lessons about strength, perseverance, and resilience. Adoption has been a life-long journey for me but one that has been worthwhile – it has given me an appreciation for uniqueness and imperfection in our lives that knowing one’s own family or having everyone stay together would never do.
I Grew Up Knowing That I was Adopted
Growing up, I knew that my parents adopted me and were not my biological parents. They made sure to let me know from the start and despite this, many people would often tell me how similar I am to them. My dad and I have almost identical personality traits, while some of my mom’s quirks are evident in my mannerisms. Even strangers on the phone can hear a resemblance between her voice and mine! It always fills me with joy when people comment on our similarities.
How I Found and Met my Birth Family as a Closed Adoptee
The Nagging Curiosity I Had as An Adopted Child
Growing up as an adopted child was a unique experience because I often had a nagging curiosity about my birth parents. I wanted to find out more about them, but at the same time, I didn’t want to hurt or upset my adoptive parents who had loved and taken care of me for so many years. They always did their best to make sure I had the best life possible, and it felt wrong to even consider opening that door in some way. It took a lot of inner dialogue and discussion with others to help me navigate through this conundrum.
The Curiosity of Finding out Where You Came From
Being adopted can be an amazing experience, but often times you may find yourself wanting to learn more about your biological family. You may even feel a deep curiosity about them. Taking the steps to explore these questions and search for your biological family is a brave act that many adoptees take. It’s common for those who have been adopted to feel complicated emotions such as confusion, fear, hope, and anticipation when considering this huge undertaking. However, exploring these feelings and taking the plunge into finding out more about your biological family can bring peace of mind and identity that helps set you down the path of self-discovery.
The Letter I Received from My Birthmom When I Was 22
When I was 22, I received a letter from my birth mom that changed my life. It came in a cute envelope marked with my name in the beautiful, rolling written script with the return address of someone I had never met. Inside was a handwritten note explaining why she made the difficult decision to give me up for adoption as a baby and how much she loved and cared for me even though we had never met. I learned that I had an older and a younger sister.
The warm words described how she was so very proud of the young woman I had become and wished me health, success, and happiness in all that I did. As tears rolled down my face, I knew our lives would be forever changed. Even though there are no direct words that can explain just how powerful this letter was to me, it will stay with me forever as a reminder of the strength of love that prevails in any situation.
The Emotions That Followed
I had no idea what to expect when I opened the letter from my birth mom. I couldn’t believe the news that I was reading! I had two sisters and a family that lived only an hour and a half away – yet, it felt like miles to me. A mix of emotions hit me all at once: excitement, fear, anxiety, and joy. It was overwhelming, but it also gave me a feeling of hope; finally having the chance to meet and get to know my biological family was what I’d wished for throughout the years. Despite all of my emotional confusion, this moment felt right and part of me knew that everything would be okay in the end.
How am I supposed to Feel After Hearing From My Biological Family?
If you are ever contacted by your biological family, you may feel overwhelmed with a wide range of emotions. You may feel surprised or even shocked to find out that someone is looking for you or even offering you the chance to make a connection. You may also feel scared or anxious as it could be completely new and unexpected. On the other hand, there could also be feelings of happiness, excitement, and curiosity about what more there is to discover. No matter how you are feeling, it is important to remember that whatever happens next is up to you.
Reuniting with my Birth Family on My Golden Birthday: A Surreal yet Rewarding Experience
On my golden birthday, when I turned 23, I was given the opportunity to meet my birth mom and sisters for the first time. This special day marked a major milestone in my life- finally connecting with a part of my roots that never seemed reachable before. We all gathered with no prior knowledge of what to expect from each other and yet still felt an immediate sense of comfort, friendship, and familiarity between us. Everything felt so surreal and could not have gone any better- exchanging stories about the past two decades made it feel as if we had known each other for much longer. While this remarkable experience gave answers to questions I had been asking my entire life, it also opened new doors for deepening our relationship down this ongoing road together.
Overcoming Adoption Anxiety to Establish New Connections
Taking the step to build new connections with your birth family can feel overwhelming. Nevertheless, it is an important part of adoption that helps many adoptees gain closure and find healing. Sometimes being prepared and informed before diving into a big conversation can help reduce anxiety. Find out as much information as possible before deciding if it’s right for you like the number of years since the adoption happened, where your birth family lives, and their social media presence.
With this knowledge you can start to gain some control over your emotions and reach out at whatever comfort level works best for you; whether that’s initiating a phone call, sending messages online, or even meeting in person if distance permits. You may be surprised by how parental figures from your past can inform that of your present relationships in positive ways as you embark on a journey of healing through establishing these new connections.
A New Journey of Discovery and Self-Reflection: What it means to me now
The journey of discovery and self-reflection has been a long one for me. Almost thirty years ago, I met my birth mom, sisters, and extended family. It was an amazing moment that motivated me to make changes in my life. Unfortunately, I ended up in a deep spiral of drug addiction with my older sister; we both got clean but it wasn’t until my husband passed away almost four years ago that I finally quit opiates. Now, I’m more conscious of the person that I want to be and am carving out a new life built on healthier values. This journey has been filled with ups and downs but it has made me even more determined to live an extraordinary life.
How Being Adopted Has Affected My Life
Dealing with being adopted wasn’t easy for me. I had to face the reality that my two siblings stayed with my mother, but I was the one given away. This created a lot of confusion and difficulty for me. It even took me some time to accept and understand the situation. With perseverance, however, I was eventually able to process all these emotions and come to terms
How Being Adopted Affects You and How it May Affect How You Do Things
Being adopted can have a powerful effect on someone’s life. It can affect things like their beliefs, ideas, emotions, and views of their identity. It may also influence the decisions they make and how they approach certain situations. One example is that adopted individuals might find it difficult to trust fully because of the history of not knowing where they come from or who their real parents are. On the other hand, many adopted individuals report feeling connected to their adoptive families as if they were born into it – this could lead to them making decisions with an emphasis on strong family commitment. A better understanding of the effects of being adopted can help both adoptees and those around them make sense of any differences in behavior that arise with being adopted.
My Sister’s Story and How Lucky I Am
When I met my big sister for the first time, I was jealous of her. She had gotten to stay with our mom, while I became adopted. But then she showed me that there were other sides to it – I was the lucky one because Mom had been an addict for so long. I didn’t grow up in poverty and had chances that she and her friends hadn’t experienced before! It made me appreciate all the gifts and possibilities life has granted me.
Marrying My “Other” Dad’s Best Friend
Who would have thought that years later I’d be marrying the best friend of my birth mom’s husband? All these coincidences make it seem almost like a plot straight out of a movie. The chances of something like this happening are so slim, it’s almost as if fate had a hand in bringing us together. Despite all the crazy twists and turns along my journey to find my soulmate, things somehow worked out for me in the end.
When I Lost My Soulmate to Cancer
After all the good times spent with my husband, the bad stuff started. In May of 2019, I was devastated when he passed away from pancreatic cancer. I knew it was going to be tough coping with his death, but nothing could have prepared me for how much it was going to hurt. Every single day for months felt like a new fight; however, I refused to stay down and kept finding ways to stay positive. Even in the midst of sorrow, I found joy in the memories we made together and continue to keep them close in my heart forever.
The Dominoes of Death…Navigating through Grief After Losing a Birth Parent
It was heartbreaking losing my mom’s husband. In a way, it was a blessing in disguise as it gave me the motivation to get clean and stay that way. After his death, his best friend died of cancer and then unexpectedly, I lost my birth mom too. It’s been tough emotionally trying to accept their deaths, and I’m still processing it all.
I still feel like I’m on autopilot, numb, and not really there. This whole situation feels like a dream, almost unreal in a way. I’ve been trying to find an outlet for all of my emotions so that I can come to terms with this overwhelming loss; at first, it felt like I was going through the motions and nothing would ever be okay again and suddenly, out of nowhere, my sister called me to let me know that Nana also passed away. That was almost too much to bear and it’s hard to imagine how things will ever be normal again after hearing this news. Although it’s very difficult right now, I am doing my best to be strong for my family as we make our way through this tough time together.
How Do You Live After So Much Death?
It’s not easy dealing with loss, but I am trying my best to move forward. One step at a time, I am learning the importance of self-care and leaning on the support of my friends and family. My hope is that by sharing my story, it will help others who have experienced similar losses. It can be so comforting to know that you’re not alone in this journey and speaking out about what we are going through can be beneficial for us all.
No matter how hard life gets, there is always something to look forward to. Although it won’t bring my lost loved ones back, I’m looking ahead toward brighter days for myself and those around me – even if it takes some time to get there! As long as I keep following my heart, I know that I will find ways to heal and move forward. Life is unpredictable, but with a bit of courage and a whole lot of love, anything is possible.
The Silver Lining: What I Want Other Adoptees to Know
After so much loss, I’ve come to realize that life is too short and we should make the most of it. No matter what your circumstances are or how different your journey has been compared to others, you can do anything you set your mind to. My story may be unique in its own way, but at the end of the day, I’m sure many adoptees out there have also gone through similar experiences. We all have our own stories to tell and for those who haven’t yet found their peace – keep going! Nothing worthwhile comes easily, but if you stay true to yourself and never give up hope, anything is possible.
The Takeaway
My story might sound like a roller coaster with lots of ups and downs, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. It has taught me so much about love, resilience, and hope – all of which are invaluable lessons that will stay with me for a lifetime. We never know what life is going to throw at us, but every single experience can make us stronger if we choose to see it that way. The only thing we have control over is ourselves and how we respond to any given situation.
So take care of yourself and remember: no matter what you’re going through, you can get through anything; even if the road ahead looks daunting or intimidating – don’t be afraid! With faith and determination, you can conquer any obstacle in your path. Life may not always be easy and sometimes it can seem unfair, but if you focus on the love that exists in your life and all of the wonderful memories you’ve made – happiness will surely follow.
A Message for my Birth Mom
Squirrel, Mom, I miss you. I am so sorry that you didn’t get to have time with me since getting clean. That is my biggest regret. I want you to know that I love you and think about you every day. Thank you for giving me life and for choosing the best home for me. I am so proud of who I have become. Thank you for being strong enough to give me up when you were so young. I am forever grateful. Love, Lori Ann
No matter what our lives look like right now or how different they may be in the future, I hope that we can all find a way to connect with each other and share our stories in a meaningful way. Life is unpredictable, but when filled with love, anything is possible. So keep going, never give up hope, and always believe in yourself – you can reach any goal that you set your mind to! Take care of yourselves and those around you; together we will make it through this difficult time stronger than ever before.
Finding Comfort in the Strength of Love
Thank you for reading my story today. I also send my love to Nana and all of my other loved ones who passed away too soon – thank you for being a part of my life and touching it in such a special way. You will never be forgotten! May your memory continue to live on forever in our hearts.
It’s been said that “no one is ever really gone as long as they are remembered.” And for me, my memories of the love and strength I experience from so many people throughout my life will always be a source of comfort and inspiration – no matter what challenges I may face in the future.
Thank you for reading.
Taking Control of My Future and Moving Forward with Hope
It’s never easy to deal with death, especially when those we love pass away unexpectedly. But no matter how hard it is to accept, there is always hope for a brighter tomorrow. Even after so much loss, I have found the strength and courage to keep going and continue living my life with joy and gratitude. By understanding my story and embracing all of its highs and lows, I am learning what true resilience means – not just for me but for everyone who has gone through something similar. We must never forget that our stories are
A Message of Gratitude for My Adoptive Parents and Brother
Finally, I have to thank my adoptive parents and brother. You took me in when I was just a baby girl, despite my needing hernia surgery at birth. You coached me from losing hearing in my right ear at age 5. You helped me become who I am today. You gave me a home full of love and support and treated me like one of your own – something that I will never forget.
Thank you for always believing in me no matter how hard things got and for giving me the strength to keep going even during my darkest moments. Your unwavering faith, unyielding patience, and unconditional love are why I am here today – alive, happy, and ready to take on any challenge that comes my way. From the bottom of my heart, thank you!
A Message To Anyone Who Is Struggling with Being Adopted
If you are reading this and have been adopted or have found yourself in a similar situation to mine, please know that you are loved, supported, and valued – no matter what anyone says. Understand that your story may not always be easy but it is still worth fighting for because of the beauty and strength that comes with it. It is okay to grieve, feel angry, or be confused; just remember to keep going and never give up hope.
At the end of the day, love will always be greater than any pain we experience. So too should your courage be greater than any fear that holds you back from reaching your fullest potential. You can achieve whatever you set your mind to if you believe hard enough — so don’t give up!
Take care of yourselves and be kind to one another. Keep going, keep believing, and never lose faith in the power of love! 💖
Thank you for reading my story. May we all continue to find comfort and strength in our relationships as we move forward with hope and resilience. Together, anything is possible. 💞
Want some more personal stories? Read My Incredible Story of Overcoming Addiction: Lori’s Story, What is true domestic violence? How I survived the horrors of an abusive relationship and How To Celebrate The Bond With Your Special Needs Child: Tips for Parents.
Birth mother, adopted son meet after 20 years — and work at same place | NewsNation Prime
Resources
If you’re an adoptee, navigating through the adoption journey can seem daunting. However, there are many blogs and websites that provide invaluable resources for living a life as an adopted individual. For example:
- Adoption.com has many blog articles to address questions about legal adoption and forms to help with searching for birth parents.
- Adoption Voices Magazine
- AdoptUSKids
- A Vital Legacy
- The Lost Daughters
- Birth Mother Resource Network
Each of these websites and blogs offers valuable advice, unique experiences, and ways to make your way forward during the hardships of being adopted – embrace them!
FAQ’s
What are the benefits of using blog sites and websites for adopted individuals?
Blog sites and websites for adopted individuals offer invaluable access to support, resources, advice, stories, and kinship with others who share a similar experience.
Where can I find legal advice about adoption cases?
The Child Welfare Information Gateway is a great resource for those seeking legal advice about adoption cases past or present, benefits or services available to adopted children and adults or outreach programs that work specifically with adopted individuals from all backgrounds around the globe!
Are there any forums where adoptees can connect and get support?
Yes, Standupgirl.com has forums to connect adoptees and offer support on their journey.
What are some of the best websites for adoptees?
Some of the best websites for adoptees include A Vital Legacy, Adoption Voices Magazine, Adopted in Korea, The Lost Daughters, and Birth Mother Resource Network.
Are there any blogs specifically written by adopted women?
Yes, A Vital Legacy is a blog written by an adoptee that focuses on adoption, identity, and creating a legacy. It provides an insightful perspective from experienced adoptees.
