“Starting Over” (“SO”) (their website) is a national daytime reality show which airs daily in the U.S. The premise of the show is that selected women are given an opportunity to start their lives over. These women live together for a period of time in a large house. They are provided with life coaches and the services of other professionals who help them learn how to overcome and/or deal with their difficult life issues.

The problems these women are facing cover a wide spectrum of the issues that people may face in their lifetimes. Some of the issues covered have included addictions, abusive backgrounds, family relation issues, weight problems – the issues have run the gamut. The women come to the show and define specific goals that they want to accomplish. The life coaches help them find ways to achieve these goals. The women are also provided with valuable resources including doctors, lawyers and other professionals with the education and invaluable expertise to guide them.

Cassie is a birth mother that came to the show a year or so ago with several goals in mind. Obtaining her GED was one of her goals. Her primary goal, however, was to meet the son that she relinquished to adoption. Cassie’s son was coming of age and she desperately wanted to reconnect with him.

In an effort to help Cassie make the decision about whether it was wise to search for and attempt reunion with her son, the "SO" staff located a therapist for Cassie who was also a reunited birth mom. They also asked the local Concerned United Birthparents (“CUB”) chapter to send some of their members to the SO house to meet with Cassie. I was fortunate enough to be a part of the support group who went to the SO house. We taped a meeting with Cassie to share our experiences with her about search and reunion. Our support group meeting with her was later aired on one of the episodes.

The program guide for today's show says Cassie is discussing meeting her son -I am not certain now my source is correct about the meeting being today. Tune in to find out! The show is broadcast daily in my area at noon. Check your local listing if you want to watch Cassie’s reunion with her son.

To Be Continued………………………………………………………………