Kinship Center Birth Parents

We are a Legion…

melissa — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:39:48 +0000

I had the privilege this past Monday evening of facilitating a workshop for prospective adoptive parents..the topic was Adoption Through the Eyes of the Birth Mother..I call it a privilege because two very special woman both birth mothers I worked with through the years bravely told their very personal journey of placing their infants at birth for adoption…both woman spoke candidly about the joys and the pain of making the decision and how they have coped through the years with the choice they each made..both addressed the love they had for not only their birth child but for the adoptive parents who were raising their children.. both had close and loving open adoptions with their birth children as well as the adoptive families.. the audience of prospective adoptive parents were riveted to their seats as these woman spoke…. Tears flowed through out the evening, but because of the courage displayed by these two woman, who so openly shared their stories , they were able to humanize and accurately portray who birth mothers really are. In doing so they dispelled any myths that birth mothers forget or don’t love their children… as I drove home that night thinking of these two brave and loving woman I was reminded of a poem written by a birth mother titled.. “We are a Legion”..Click the link below to read these powerful words..

http://www.openadoptioninsight.org/html/birth_mother_s_poetry.html

Pregnant and thinking about adoption? A fact sheet for expectant parents considering adoption

melissa — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 06:06:25 +0000

I came across this publication that offers expectant parents considering adoption a step by step fact sheet to guide decision making..it contains straight forward information and advice that should be considered when making such a life altering decision as placing your baby for adoption. Click below to link to view this guide, or download the entire guide for free compliments of Child Welfare Information Gateway…

www.childwelfare.gov/adoption/birth/for/pregnant_women/plan.cfm

MTV’s hit series:I’m 16 and pregnant… A compelling look at real dilemmas teens face when a pregancy occurs

melissa — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 10:25:43 +0000

I had the opportunity to view some of the highlights of the MTV 2009 hit series” I’m 16 and pregnant “. They are posted on the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy website..These are powerful real stories of the challenges and heartache that teens and their families endure when a pregnancy occurs..the series( season 1 ) is six episodes, covering a wide range of issues confronting teens..there’s even an adoption story highlighted in one episode where a teen couple (Catelynn & Tyler) lovingly and courageously place their baby for adoption in spite of little support from their families…..the series is out on DVD and comes with a discussion guide book and a teen pregnancy fact sheet.. click below to link to the Campaign’s homepage you’ll also find other useful information and facts regarding teen pregnancy issues.. a great website for parents and teens!!

http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/media/16andpregnant.aspx

Through the eyes and heart of a birth father…A powerful story:Dear Andy..

melissa — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 08:41:58 +0000

Sadly it’s seldom that we hear about adoption through the eyes of a birth father..All to often they remain in the background of the adoption process..they rarely are heard from..click on the link below and scroll down to read a heartfelt account of a birth father’s ongoing adoption journey titled: Dear Andy, by Warren Florence

http://www.adoptivefamilies.com/birthparents.php

A gift of love: A Birth Parent’s Book of Memories

melissa — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 08:48:40 +0000

Birth parents often struggle with conveying family history and background information to their children they have placed for adoption in a personal way rather than just completing the necessary State or Agency background forms that tend to be cold and impersonal…. “A Birth Parent’s Book of Memories” may be the answer..it is a fill in the blank scrapbook written specifically for birth parents to give to their birth children ….it allows a birth parent to convey background information in a loving , intimate and personal way…it has room for photos , art work and also comes with helpful suggestions from the author as to how to fill it out..this is truly a gift of love from a birth parent to a birth child..click on the link below to see this book and also how to order;

http://www.adoptshoppe.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&PROID=804

Encountering open adoption first hand…

melissa — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 10:03:07 +0000

About ten years ago I had my first encounter with a long term open adoption… It involved a relationship that had been building between a birth mother and her birth son .. she had placed him for adoption at birth.. the youth was 16 at the time I met him… he just had proudly acquired his drivers license. He and his family as well as his birth mother and her family were attending an Open Adoption Conference in Michigan..I was amazed at the ease with which this teen flowed back and forth between his birth and adopted family. He spoke lovingly of his adopted family and he was playful and loving towards his birth mother…. I watched in awe as he offered to take his birth mother for a drive with him at the wheel ….She accepted and they both left laughing and went off for a drive together..This scene will always stick in my mind as a testament to the fact that open adoption can work and can bring out the best in a child and provide peace and security for birth and adoptive families…This loving and natural interaction was between Brenda Romanchik and her birth son..I continue to be inspired by Brenda and her beautiful writings which give insight into the feelings of a birth parent..click on the link below to read more of Brenda’s powerful words that chronicle her personal journey;

www.openadoptioninsight.org

Why did you keep her and not me??

melissa — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 11:34:00 +0000

Over the years of working with a number of courageous women who chose adoption, a common question surfaced for those women who had other children they were parenting..How would I ever be able to explain to my children why I placed one child and not another?? click on the link below from Pact, An Adoption Alliance to read one woman’s struggle and eventual answer to this common question…

http://www.pactadopt.org/press/articles/choosing.html

Pros and Cons of Single Parenting…Is single parenting right for you?

melissa — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 18:17:27 +0000

Kinship Center’s social workers are committed to helping women explore all options regarding their pregnancy during counseling sessions so that they are able to make an informed decision….click on the link to read an article that explores single parenting…. http://www.optionsmagazine.com/magazine/article_view/article/17_3041

One family’s experience with open adoption:redefining the meaning of family!!

melissa — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 21:33:49 +0000

Click on this link to hear an adoptive families story of the meaning of an open adoption

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4237866