Courage.

Nobody can completely hide or run from their past. In most cases, mothers who put their children up for adoption have been rejected by their families because they became pregnant as teenagers, the relationships they became involved turned sour for a variety of reasons (including physical or mental abuse, alcohol and/or drug abuse, abandonment, grave financial or emotional problems, or family bigotry). Society once had many unfortunate customs which contributed to this climate.. Some "reunions" are very happy, others can open up terrible wounds and have very negative consequences for everyone involved.

Perseverance.

1. Accept the fact that your search process may take several years.

2. Some jurisdictions make the process as difficult as possible because when these proceedings originally took place, the law placed more emphasis on the rights of privacy for the parties putting the child up for adoption.

3. They also believed (at that time) that the child would be best served by a complete severance of any legal or emotional ties with the natural parents, especially due to the circumstances that usually caused the adoption situation to occur.

4. Learn not to take "no" for an answer. The information is there. If you can gain access to the actual court file, all the paperwork relevant to the adoption (including your original birth certificate) should be included.

Research Skills

During the course of your search, you will need to learn how to be a detective. It wouldn't hurt if you were to take a beginning course in legal research, since at some point you will meet the legal process head on once you determine the county where the actual adoption proceedings occurred in.

Financial Support

Be prepared for expenses such as postage, supplies, fees, etc. Contacting various adoption support groups may provide you with options for emotional and possible financial support.