The two part blog series I wrote in February talks about the different types of DNA tests that can be utilized in your adoption search. Before you turn to DNA testing to help uncover your natural ancestry you first should probably learn some basics.

Each individual’s physical traits and characteristics are determined from our genes and our chromosomes hold our genetic material and carry genetic information in long strands of DNA called genes. DNA acts... more

Angels are one of my favorite things. I love them for their beauty, and for what they are--guardians. Angels are loving, kind, and show selflessness in their acts. The angels with in the adoption community are referred to as Adoption Search Angels.

An adoption search angel volunteers his or her time to help triad members seek answers in their adoption search. These search angels can help a natural parent locate and old yearbook so that he or she can see the child she placed for adoption. Some search angels will explore registries to help... more

Triad members are often amazed at the similarities that they share between them or the opposite can happen where they are very different with little common ground. The adoptee may physically resemble the natural parent. This can be something that is very important to the adoptee. Often times this is the first family connection that they meet that has a physical resemblance.

All involved in reunion bring with them their own personal fantasies about the other person and expectations. The reunion can go better than expected or... more

Although it is true that all states amend birth certificates and contain some false information, some states do more than change the names of the parents.

This site lists the ways that certain states falsify adoption records. It should be noted that this practice is not common. You might be surprised to find that this list contains seventeen states that change certain items on birth certificates.

According to this list, in Florida they still change the actual place of birth, for... more

This article from the UK surveyed 208 adopted people, aged from six to 22 and found that they want more information about their adoptions.

Adopted children want more information about their birth family and why they were adopted, according to a report.

This study also discusses how adoption agencies in the UK are not meeting government standards. It says that one out of every two agencies are failing in some respects. Their research cites high... more

If you have not spoken to a birth parent who is searching for their relinquished child, it might surprise you how important the search is to them. Every tiny bit of information that they receive along the way is such a treasure to them. Each dissappointment can be a crushing blow. As they get closer to finding their child parent, those new discoveries put the broadest smiles on their faces that you have ever seen. If you have any doubts about their love for their children, watching them relate a new piece of information will erase those doubts.... more

The Boy Scout motto which tells us to be prepared is a useful reminder to those of us in closed adoptions. I will be the first to admit that as a birth mother, I was not prepared for reunion. In fact, I had my head so buried in the sand, I never even thought of myself as a birth mother. Preparing for the possibility of reunion was even less on my mind. I knew so little about adoption searches that I figured if my son did not search when he first became of age at 18 or 21 that he probably never would. Now, I know that the... more

Living near a large metropolitan area, I had great options for support from other triad members. Not everyone is as fortunate in that respect. In our area, not only is there a local CUB Chapter, but, several triad therapists. These therapists come from every part of the triad. Although there is at least one birth mom therapist in my area, I did not find out about her until much later. The adoptee therapist recommended to me also had a small adoption therapy group which held its meetings in the... more

Should birth parents from the era of closed adoptions search for their children? Is it better for birth/first parents to wait and let the adoptees search? Many birth parents are too afraid to search, and there are a whole gaggle of other reasons why most do not search.

Few of the reasons why birth parents chose not to search have much or anything to do with how they feel about their children. Birth parents do not search for a wide variety of reasons. Many of them feel as though they have no right to search. What do you think?

Although... more

Are you a natural mother searching? Do you feel like you are living in limbo? I can’t imagine searching as a natural mother but I do know what the loss of a child is like. .For those of you who read regularly know we have experienced three pregnancy losses in the past year and a half. I truly believe that until you learn the truth about your son or daughter, whether he or she is alive or dead, know his or her name, and learn some things about him or her, you will continue to live in limbo. Living under the cloud of not knowing is why natural... more