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Hi All... I am posting this separate thread b/c I have no desire to focus on the current issues in my reunion with my daughter Jessica but I can't stop thinking and wondering about REUNION, ya' know? I need to share that I had a session with my therapist today that was very helpful and I am better having put our reunion on hold.
Now...I've been reading :coffee: some of the threads here and it seems as if (IMO) a lot of adoptee's are dealing with A-parents who feel as if our B-kids are gonna run up to us upon reuniting scream Mama, and come home to us carrying a twin bed and all of their clothes. :banana: That is nothing even close to what I ever thought, dreamed or wanted to happen in reunion. I simply wanted to know that my daughter didn't die from SIDS, could meet her blood relatives, if she wanted to and not marry one of us someday by accident, and have an opportunity to know that she has more than a slight chance of developing type II diabetes, and that I can answer any questions she might have surrounding her conception and placement.
I didn't want to re-raise her, claim her as my own or take anyone's place in her life. I had no desire to judge her or her parents and I didn't need her to prove anything to me.
I am wondering why there is so much concern when ADULTS want to meet their family of origin? I keep reading posts where someone says to adoptee's "This is probably hard for your A-parents," and every time I do I want to scream WHY??? Am I missing something here?
Tracy
I agree that there doesn't need to be pain in reunion.
Roller - I reunited with my bsiblings a few years ago. It was a very emotional time for me and I wanted/needed my husband to be supportive of me. At first, he hadn't wanted me to search because he was afraid of me being hurt. But after he saw how happy I was just "knowing" he was happy for me too. I must say that there were times when supper was late, the house didn't get cleaned, and the laundry didn't get done and the world seemed topsy turvy for a while. But through it all, my husband supported me even when he didn't/couldn't totally understand how very important it all was to me.
My husband had a very strong bond and love for my adoptive parents before they passed away but he realized that it didn't take anything away from them for me to let more people into my life to love.
Not feeling comfortable or even liking in-laws. Is that something that only happens in this type of situation? No. I have friends who wish that their husbands had been "hatched" rather than have to put up with prying mother-in-laws. But thats not the way real life works.
Reunions are "self-centered" in the beginning as feelings and emotions are dealt with. I am several years into my reunion and things have calmed down. It is just a "normal" thing now for me to have so many brothers and sisters even though at times it still seems surreal.
Things will calm down in your wife's reunion too.
Snuffie
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shadow riderer
Roller, I think your situation is completely different from Tazers. You are an adult. Her daughter is still a child. You seem to be angry at your wife for not "listening" to your feelings. Tazer's daughter's feelings are that of a child, who still has some maturing to do.
I understand that you do not like your wife's bio family, but what, exactly, is it you want your wife to do?
To leave me out of the reunion process if I choose. To not berate me for making that choice. To realize that my opinions and feelings are just as important has hers.
I understand tazer's daughter is still a child, but I probably understand her viewpoint better than I do anyone elses, because it seems we're being told about the same thing, and neither of us like it.
It seems our feelings are not as important as the adoptee and b-family, and if we have problems with it, then we need to just deal with it.
I think the fear is the fear of loss. They raised this child as their own, but are fearful that genetics will prove a stronger bond than their love.
Roller...when you got married you probably said some vows. I am not sure which vows you chose, but most vows include something about about "for better or worse". I have also heard people vow to be supportive. Anyway..in a marriage, this is how it is suppose to be. And yes, I am prepared for you to say "but how is she supporting your feelings in this." Well, you married her..and in doing so you married an adoptee...and when you married her you made a decision to support her. My pastor always taught us that "You have to give up your right to be right." I have done this MANY MANY MANY times. Sometimes it's small things, that I give my right to be right up for. Sometimes it is HUGE things that I have given up my right to be right about. I can think of one in particular, that I gave up my right to be right, and some of the people involved felt I had a right to leave and never look back...but I didn't. Since that time, I have had "promotions"...I have gained new experiences..new joys...which had I not been able to give up my right to be right, I would have missed out on. Perhaps that is what you need to do. I haven't heard ANYONE say that you have to ADORE these people...but what would be so wrong if you just supported your wife in this. Yes, she is the one who is the adoptee.
Also, a while back, you mentioned that you didn't understand why she would even want to meet them because her aparents were great. Well, I can tell you that hardly any search is done because the adoptee isn't happy with their parents. It is deeper then that. I feel sorry for people who think that adoptees and birthparents search each other out because other people in our lives aren't good enough. It's because there are some things that only the adoptee or bparent can be or give to each other.
I hope that your wife has support. If not, perhaps you should direct her to this site....
r0ller
To leave me out of the reunion process if I choose. To not berate me for making that choice. To realize that my opinions and feelings are just as important has hers."
Am I understanding this? You want her to give you the same respect and consideration you are giving her? I think that's only fair.
My husband doesn't like my Bsis. My Bsis and I are very close. I understand my husbands feelings towards my Bsis. She can be a huge, gianormous, pain in the behind. To say she is sometimes a little bit overbearing and obnscious at times is an understatement. Heck, as much as I love her, and bless her heart, she even gets on my nerves. My husband doesn't like to be around her. I get that. He doesn't have to like her. Whether he likes her or not, she is stil my Bsis. If he doesn't want to spend time with her, I certainly wont force him to do so. However, that doesn't give him the right to stop me from doing so. If he doesn't want to join in my relationship with her, he doesn't have to. However, that doesn't give him the right to tell me she isn't welcome at our home, or that I can't include her in important events in my life. I wouldn't expect him to be overjoyed or greet her with open arms. I would, however, expect him to be civil and polite. He is more than welcome to keep his distance, avoid her, whatever he needs to do, but if he were to try to stop me from including her in my life, it wouldn't take me a second to tell him what he could kiss and where. I need to state here that I would also not allow my Bsis to mistreat or disrespect my husband, which is something she would unintentionally do. Were she to do so, I'd be all over her like stink on you know what. I would also expect him to not badmouth her, even if what he said were true. I love and respect my husband, and were their a family member on his side, adoptive or biological that I did not like, or respect, I would give him the same love and respect I expect him to give me.. It has nothing to do with me bing an adoptee, or me reuniting with my bio sis. I would feel the same were she my sis by adoption, and my husband would also have the same feelings.
My reunion with my Bdad was a completely emotional, obsessive, roller coaster. My poor husband got completely run over at times. It wasn't easy on him. There is no doubt in my mind he felt like you at times. I know he got tired of hearing about all the drama. I know he got angry about it. He didn't understand. He stayed out of it, and there were times I felt like he didn't care. I got angry with him at those times. Because of that anger, it was hard to see his point of view. We've muddled through and are closer now than ever. Had he ever once tried to discourage me from having a relationship with my BDad, world war III would have been on. As hard as it was to see him and his feelings, I always tried to do so. Sometimes I did a better job of it than others. I understand now, that those times I thought he didn't care, he really just didn't know what to do or say, and was angry and frustrated at the situation. I also realize that any thing I perceived as him trying to discourage me from a relationship, was him not wanting me to get hurt. He was trying to protect me. Sometimes he handled things well...sometimes he didn't. It was just hard at times.
Is it possible that you and your wife are making this much harder and painful than it really has to be because you are both frustrated and angry, not so much just at each other, but at the whole situation? Maybe you are both expecting too much of each other at the moment, and might need to cut each other some slack for awhile? Is this really about adoption and reunion, or is that just what is getting the blame and being used as the excuse? I don't know...just throwing it out there for thought.
"I understand tazer's daughter is still a child, but I probably understand her viewpoint better than I do anyone elses, because it seems we're being told about the same thing, and neither of us like it.
It seems our feelings are not as important as the adoptee and b-family, and if we have problems with it, then we need to just deal with it.
Interesting that you state that...Isn't that what I stated about adoptees in my first post on this thread? Maybe we all just need to deal with our own feelings and stop expecting others to do it for us? We all just need to "deal" with it? It sucks, doesn't it?
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shadow riderer
Maybe we all just need to deal with our own feelings and stop expecting others to do it for us? We all just need to "deal" with it? It sucks, doesn't it?
It sure does, and my marriage may end because it sucks so much I don't want to live the rest of my life that way.
Roller..it is really sad that you feel like that you would rather have your marriage end! How often does your wife see her bfamily? How long ago did she find them, or them her?
BrockBaby
Roller...when you got married you probably said some vows. I am not sure which vows you chose, but most vows include something about about "for better or worse". I have also heard people vow to be supportive. Anyway..in a marriage, this is how it is suppose to be. And yes, I am prepared for you to say "but how is she supporting your feelings in this." Well, you married her..and in doing so you married an adoptee...and when you married her you made a decision to support her. My pastor always taught us that "You have to give up your right to be right." I have done this MANY MANY MANY times. Sometimes it's small things, that I give my right to be right up for. Sometimes it is HUGE things that I have given up my right to be right about. I can think of one in particular, that I gave up my right to be right, and some of the people involved felt I had a right to leave and never look back...but I didn't. Since that time, I have had "promotions"...I have gained new experiences..new joys...which had I not been able to give up my right to be right, I would have missed out on. Perhaps that is what you need to do. I haven't heard ANYONE say that you have to ADORE these people...but what would be so wrong if you just supported your wife in this. Yes, she is the one who is the adoptee. ....
It is getting to the point that I was considering divorce because she simply refused to address my hurt and basically told me to "deal with it". I'm not sure I can stay married to a person who is that selfish (and yes, that's what I call someone who refuses to take others feelings into consideration). Eventually the pain of staying married becomes worse than the pain of divorcing, and we very nearly came to that point, and there's a high probability that when the next time comes around that we'll hit it.
BrockBaby
Also, a while back, you mentioned that you didn't understand why she would even want to meet them because her aparents were great. Well, I can tell you that hardly any search is done because the adoptee isn't happy with their parents. It is deeper then that. I feel sorry for people who think that adoptees and birthparents search each other out because other people in our lives aren't good enough. It's because there are some things that only the adoptee or bparent can be or give to each other.....
The closest I can come to understanding it is that I don't get what she's looking for, but I know she needs it.
BrockBaby
Roller..it is really sad that you feel like that you would rather have your marriage end! How often does your wife see her bfamily? How long ago did she find them, or them her?
She found them while we were dating (1986), but just wanted to meet them and get the necessary medical information. It has been up and down since then (with an appearance on "Oprah" in 1996 with a screaming match between the two on national TV). Throughout the first 10 years or so, I stayed out of it because I felt I had no background to form an opinion. But several years ago, the b-mom had several incredible lapses in her moral judgement (which she continues to do), and I decided that I simply did not want to be around a woman of her character. I would be perfectly happy if my kids weren't around her either, because I think she's an incredibly poor example.
Her b-mom lives in Texas (we live in Virginia), but her b-brother lives in Maryland. The b-mom comes up once every couple of months to see the b-brother, and then the friction starts because I leave the house when they arrive or I don't go to Maryland with her and our kids. For the last 2 1/2 months, my wife and I have been getting along just fine because they are not in the picture, and it's been wonderful. But in the back of my mind, I know what's coming. The name calling, the yelling, the cursing (that's her to me, BTW) and I'm not so sure I'm going to stick around for it this time.
But the whole point of my being on this thread is to try to sort out my feelings, or maybe run into someone else who has had a similar situation. Or perhaps shed some light on someone else's situation.
Being told that since I'm not in the triad, I need to "deal with it" doesn't help very much.
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You do need to deal with it. That's the point. I need to deal with it. That's the point. Your wife needs to deal with it. That's the point. It's how we choose to deal with it that matters the most in the long run.
I wonder, however, how strong your marriage is, if you are willing to give up over this. I am not in your marriage, so I don't know. But I would think that there are other issues besides just adoption. I have talked to some other people, and I have come to realize in my own life, that sometimes the reason I react certain ways to situations has nothing to do with the situation itself, per se, but because of something deeper. This could go for your wife too. Perhaps she has something, deeper, in her, that makes you not "supporting" her with her bmom seem even more extreme then it might be. Have you tried counseling?
Roller, I'm so very sorry to hear you say that. This really isn't about adoption and reunion. This is about respect, consideration,and compassion for each other. As far as a marriage ending, I've been there done that. Talk about something that sucks...don't go there if you can help it.
I wish I had the answers for you, or at least words of comfort. I will keep you and your wife in my prayers. I hope you will both see that both of you matter, and find your way back to each other.
BrockBaby
You do need to deal with it. That's the point. I need to deal with it. That's the point. Your wife needs to deal with it. That's the point. It's how we choose to deal with it that matters the most in the long run.
I wonder, however, how strong your marriage is, if you are willing to give up over this. I am not in your marriage, so I don't know. But I would think that there are other issues besides just adoption. I have talked to some other people, and I have come to realize in my own life, that sometimes the reason I react certain ways to situations has nothing to do with the situation itself, per se, but because of something deeper. This could go for your wife too. Perhaps she has something, deeper, in her, that makes you not "supporting" her with her bmom seem even more extreme then it might be. Have you tried counseling?
It's hard to really gauge how strong the marriage is, but we've been married 20 years as of May of this year, so I suppose that says something.
We've been to counseling twice a month for the last 6 months about this.
It's difficult for me to believe that it's something else because we get along wonderfully when it's not an issue.
The big event that took place this summer was my oldest son's high school graduation. My wife wanted the b-family to be a part of it, including attending the graduation, the party afterward, brunch the next day, basically 10-12 hours a day for 3 days. I told her that was way to much, but she said that if I didn't allow it, then we were going to separate. So, after much soul-searching, I "dealt with it" and spent three miserable days associating with these people that I absolutely, positively did not want to associate with for what seemed like forever. It more or less ruined the event for me, and my wife knew it would because I told her it would.
I really don't know if I can go through that again.
Roller..you have my deepest sympathy in what you're going through. I now realize that it's much deeper than the act of being reunited. I'm sure her B-parents are at the center of it all but your issues seem to be that you aren't being heard or respected by your wife regarding the issue of reunion. That's heavy. I hope you guys can work it out somehow but IMO you'd have the same issues whether it was a B-mom, A-mom, best friend or boa constrictor that was interfering with what seems like a lack of understanding and support in the marriage.
My d/h has a former college frat brother that he loves dearly. This guy, Rich was so close that he was the best man at our wedding. I didn't like or really even know much about Rich other than my hubby would die or kill for him. IMO Rich is loud, rude, crude, disrespectful, he drinks a lot:arrow: and he chases women; the polar opposite of Adam, my d/h. My Adam is an Ordained Minister, he's quiet, honest to a fault, very respectful, only has an occasional wine with dinner or maybe a beer with his buddies at the golf course and the only woman he ever chases is ME when I tell him to! :love: I don't feel Rich is a good friend to have and if he died tonight I'd probably not attend his services except to support my husband. I trust my d/h judgment and I stand beside him always. Even when being near Rich makes me cringe inside I grin and bear it for Adams sake. By the same token when Adam knows I'm uncomfortable his cuts our visit with Rich short. He doesn't ask me for more than I can give. When Rich comes to town Adam doesn't invite him HERE for dinner, he invites him over to see the twins, his God-daughters, and have a snack and the 2 of them go out to dinner. I politely decline. That way Rich can drink until his liver explodes and runs out of his ears, whistle and ask for the phone number of all the waitresses and make lewd remarks to every blond within a 5 mile radius and I can avoid all of it. I offer to prepare a Sunday after hang-over breakfast and drive him from his hotel to church ONLY. I respect the friendship but I am not made uncomfortable by it.
I am happy that you guys are in therapy and I am glad you came here. There are a lot of people who feel the same way you do about reunion and the "triad'ERS" here. I pray it works out for both of you. Tracy
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Rollar,
I really do understand how you might feel. Some questions though.
Is she pushing you to feel a certain way about her bmom? Are you getting upset because bmom is even here? Do you not like the bmom because of her personality? How muchg does her bmom come to the house? How much actually is bmom interfering with your relationship?
What I have noticed with you that in this whole situation, which I agree with everyone else its really sad if you end your marriage over this, is that you are attempting to assign feelings to your wife regatding her bmom. You have stated here that we as adoptees "should" or should't" feel a certain way and if we don't feel the way you think we should feel the the adoptee is not understanding and being senstive to everyone else. Have you tried at all to see what she might be feeling? Its easy for others to say that we are not being understand and senstive to others when its the other person being left out, or percieved as being left out. With saying that, I don't know how intense this relationship is with her bmom. If in fact it is so intense that your wife is totally neglecting everybody and everyother thing in her life then its not healthy for her, or anyone else. I reembe in your other thread you talked about her bmom staying at your house for your son grad. I totally understnad you feeling uncomfortable with that as it is your house too.
Have you built a wall up regarding her bmom so that whenever she talks. see's thinks about her you feel resenment and pain? Has she built a wall up whenever she senses you are not listening to her ....has the comminication become more of a pissing contest as opposed to some good comminication between the two of you?
I feel horrible for you in this situation, I feel horrible your wife has gone through this situaion and it really is the fall out of the pratice of adoption. I don't beleive that anyone way back when thought these things could happen but it only makes sense that they would. you take a human remove them from their roots and its only nateal they would want to know about themselves. Its when the relationships and expecations become unhealthy and everyuone is trying to find their place that feelings, and peole get hurt. As much as you would feel based on your situaion that NO adoptee should ever find birthfamily because it hurts everyone else...is really just your feelings.....as much as lots of peole may understand them they don't work for everyone. Like you said...its not a matter of feelings being right or wrong, its a matter of peole's indivual needs. The really hard part is for everyone to have those needs met without marriages and relationships falling apart and really...it is up to both of you to comprosmise. How important is she to you, how important is it for you to save the marriage? And how important is it for her to save the marriage>?. You both have to try to understand each other.
Rollar, I feel for you. I honestly do. My guess is that the issue isn't your wife's birthmom, even if you do find her a miserable human being. It may not even be your wife's apparent lack of consideration for your feelings. Those are just the issues that you've chose to fight over. Of course, I can be entirely wrong. I've been on the sucky side of marriage and am lucky enough to be one who made it through counseling, and things are better now than they ever had been. One thing I learned was to focus on what I could change about my attitudes, reactions, and thoughts. (which was not fun, by the way) Once I worked on what I could change, things began to get better. I don't know if it was my change in attitude, or if he was working on the same... It may not work, but since you feel you're on the way to divorce anyway, you have nothing to lose.
It wasn't easy, and I promise you, I was plenty ticked off by then, and felt justified in all my anger. Giving that up wasn't easy. So I mean it when I say I feel for you. I know how hard it is to feel you're right, and that you shouldn't have to give anymore.
Good luck.