Adoption Search

Mother’s Day was always a time of year I would wonder about my biological mother. When I was younger I knew I was adopted but didn’t know details, like my parents’ names or birthdays, so Hallmark Holidays such as Mother’s Day and Father’s Day usually were what would trigger reflection for me. Growing up, when I would think about my mother (biological) I would wonder many things. What did she look like? What did her voice sound like? Did she think about me too? Did she remember my birthday? Did she still love me? Did she regret the choice she made? There was a point in my life that I even went as far as writing a fictional story about… [more]

I wrestled with the notion of searching for my birth family throughout much of my formative years. My adoptive parents always told me they would support a desire to search and do whatever would be necessary to assist me in this process.  During my younger years, I could not imagine ever wanting to know my biological parents. After all, they had given me away so why would I want to know them - and more importantly, they obviously did not want to know me. In my early teens, a life shattering event occurred that started to change my thinking.  When I was 14 years old my adoptive father died suddenly leaving me with a hole in my soul and a longing for something… [more]

I have been searching for my son since I was 18 years old. I gave him up for Adoption when he was just shy of a year, because I was not capable at the time of taking care of him. I wanted Joey to have a chance at life, an education and parents that would LOVE him and provide for him 100% and give him everything I could not.  I found Joey on Myspace, back in 2011. I reached out to him without any response back. I then wrote to his address in which he lived growing up and still no response after sending 3 letters. I looked on Facebook many many times, and could not find him, until November of 2012… [more]

I have known for as long as I can remember that I was adopted. I don’t remember the specifics of my adoptive parents telling me, I just know they were always open with me about it and supportive of my decision whether to search for my birth family or not. My mom always told me she would go with me to look for my birth family and meet them if I had the opportunity. Due to my adoption being a closed adoption the only information I had to go on was the details my parents told me about the paperwork that my adoption agency gave them at the time of my adoption (paperwork my birth mother had filled out up to the time… [more]

No matter where you are in the search and reunion process, it can be difficult to keep your head up and your thoughts positive. The reunion search can be a tiring journey, physically, emotionally, and mentally. And even though you may feel alone right now, you're not. There are many people out there searching, too. For some it can take just a few hours to find success. For others it takes years, even decades, to find that one person. Because reading success stories from others just like you can help you by giving your hope, motivation, and determination, here are just a few of the many reunion success stories. "I was informed at about 12pm one day that I had a brother that… [more]

With Mother's Day coming up, I can't help but think of my birth mother and my adopted mother. One carried me in her stomach and the other in her heart till the day she died four years ago. I can't imagine what was going through my birth mother's mine the day she gave birth to me knowing she was going to give me up. It must have been so hard on her. I can tell you what my adopted mother was thinking when she knew she was getting me. She was very excited, and anxious for my arrival. I know this cause she told me. She was the best mother any child could have ever asked for. She was always there for me. She loved me with all her heart and… [more]

Wow, I think back on when I was placed with my family and it just makes me smile. My first several years my mom was so afraid that if she didn't tell me about how they got me, that I'd learn it from someone else and she didn't want that to happen. So one day in the summer when I was about 4 years old, I was out playing with my cousin in the yard and I remember her calling me and sitting me on the bed. She told me she had something very important to talk to me about. Being a 4 year old, I said, "OK." She went into explaining to me that I didn't grow in her tummy like my sister did, that I grew in another woman's… [more]

Hello, My name is Rita Bradford, I'm 37 years old and was adopted when I was 9 days old. I was born in Nassawadox, VA on January 22,1975. I was adopted by a wonderful family. I'm so very thankful for them. I went from having no one to having a sister and a mom and dad. I'm currently searching for my birth family. I've been searching on my own for 14 years now. I'll get into more of that a little later, and I'll start from the beginning for now. I've often wondered how my birth mother must have felt the whole time she was pregnant with me and even the day she went to the hospital to give birth to me. She must have felt scared, worried, anxious,  and… [more]

There are moments in life that can change all that you thought to be true. It happens in the blink of an eye and often, without any warning. It may be a choice you make, a thought you have, a new person coming in to, or leaving your life, possibly a choice someone else makes for you, or even in their own lives. As far as my adoption story is concerned, I've had two of these moments. The first came in the form of a kick. I can still remember the first time I felt my daughter kick in my belly. Out of nowhere, there she was, and out of nowhere, I thought of a woman who I'd never met, a woman… [more]

Adoption can be difficult for both adoptive and biological parents. The same is true for adult adoptees, especially those who have reached out and haven't had successful reunion experiences. If you're an adult adoptee and you feel hurt, betrayed, or depressed, there are ways to move forward and find happiness and contentment in your life, despite the choices of others. You may be angry because your biological parents placed you with an adoptive family, or because you wanted your biological parents to parent you instead of letting another family do it. You may feel lost or alone because your past is a mystery and you don't know your or your family's history. No matter your personal adoption experience, you can emotionally heal and… [more]