For anyone who celebrates the holiday, Merry Christmas! If you celebrate another holiday, I wish you good wishes for whatever holiday you do celebrate.

Some suggestions have been offered for Christmas presents for triad members. As a reunited mother, I have thought what could have made a difference to me over the years when my son and I were still apart. Photos and information about him would have been welcomed and cherished.

However, I think that best present that anyone can ever give a birth/first mother is... more

On Thanksgiving Day, my son Chris called to wish me Happy Thanksgiving. (I know that it is nearly Christmas, but I am way behind.) We chatted for awhile and he told me about the gathering of family on turkey day in his part of the country. The family group sounded fairly large this year. It included Chris, his brother and financee, his brother's child, their mom (adoptive), their dad (divorced from the mom)and his brother's birth mom and a few others.

It was funny when he mentioned that his brother's birth mom was invited. He quickly mentioned it was because... more

I applaud the adoptees who are conscious of the feelings of hose around them. These are the folks who realize that search isn’t all about them and what they need and desire. It is important to have some respect to the adoptive parents. The adoptive parents are deserving of that respect and they are deserving to come to terms with adoption search in their own way.

It is so much more than searching or being found. There is so much that happens in the discovery process and to make assumptions about what the adoptee is feeling is wrong. All triad members... more

Taking the time for you as an adoptee to go through a decision making process that involves your own thoughts does not make you a selfish spoiled person. It is also okay to think about the spiritual aspects of your placement.

For some your religious identify may be an important part of who you are. For those who have strong religious faith and who identify with that faith there can be some powerful thoughts in the process of rediscovery.

I was the searcher and honestly can say if the tables were reversed I would have mixed feelings about being... more

When using the Social Security Death Index and viewing the field “last residence” try to remember that this is the address of record. It does not mean that this is the place of death. A perfect example is an elderly couple who had a summer home in the Northeast and a winter home in the south. The husband had passed on while residing in Florida but in the search results of the Social Security Death Index last residence is listed as a northern state. Many people have two official addresses especially if summer and winter home is involved.

Another... more

When searching the Social Security Death Index you can search b y date of birth and date of death as well as where a person lived and applied for their social security number. This is often times where the office that issued the Social Security number was located. You can also search using the residence at time of death which is the address of record but not necessarily where they lived or died and finally where the burial allowance or death benefit was sent.

According to the Social Security Administration a Social Security Number is composed of three... more

President Franklin Roosevelt said in a radio address on the third anniversary of the social security act on August 14, 1938 “"Long before the economic blight of the depression descended on the Nation, millions of our people were living in wastelands of want and fear. Men and women too old and infirm to work either depended on those who had but little to share, or spent their remaining years within the walls of a poorhouse. The Social Security Act offers to all our citizens a workable and working method of meeting urgent present needs and of forestalling... more

Life is a book with many chapters. Some tell of tragedy, others of triumph. Some chapters are dull and ordinary, others intense and exciting. The key to being a succcess in life is to never stop on a difficult page, to never quit on a tough chapter. Champions have the courage to keep turning the pages because they know a better chapter lies ahead and nothing is impossible.

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My live is full of so much sheer goodness right now. I have had my share of trials and tribulations like everyone does. However,... more

Through my association with CUB, I have met many adoptees and birth parents. This blog belongs to a friend of mine. I asked him recently why he thought that he and I agreed on so many issues in adoption. He made a joke about "great minds thinking alike" and I laughed.

Blogger Sandra recently wrote about the anti-adoption folks and I have a blog coming up about that subject. However, reading my friend's blog today, I wanted to share it... more

If you were born in OH you may be able to access copies of certain documents in your adoption file. To be specific, section 3107.38 of the Ohio Revised Code provides that an adopted person whose birth occurred in OH and whose adoption was finalized prior to January 1, 1964 may request in writing to receive copies of the contents of an adoption file.

In order to request these documents you must complete a form called “affidavit for adopted person”. This form can be obtained at http://www.odh.ohio.gov/vitalstatistics/legalinfo/adoptpri.aspx... more