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I woke up to the Today Show this morning to find that Steve Jobs had passed away. Though saddened, I wasn't surprised. But I was surprised to hear that Mr. Jobs was an adoptee. I don't really follow the personal lives of famous people. So, I did a little Googling on it.
I found it interesting that his bmother would only agree to let his parents adopt if they promised to send him to college. Of course, he dropped out of college, but went on to make some of the greatest contributions to technology and his innovations have shaped our modern culture. Mr. Jobs, in many ways, has touched all of our lives and those of the future. IMO, it's only relevant that he was adopted in that it was a choice a mother made and had she not chosen life, our world would be a very different place.
I have always believed that choosing life for my DS was the best decision I ever made. Choosing adoption for him was probably the best decision for him. I did what my heart told me to do, and if you follow your heart you will never be wrong.
For me, it's amazing that a choice can forever change the lives of others in a positive, meaningful way. I know my DS touched the lives of his parents who could not have children. But he will also go onto to touch the lives of others even if he doesn't mean to. If anyone who knows and loves him could say that their life is different because he is a part of it.
These are the things I think about when I reflect on my decision. And it makes me feel good about it.
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I agree, it is disturbing to see so many people using the example of his successful life as a pro-life/adoption sales pitch.
Which really has nothing to do with Steve's adoption.
I doubt anyone will try to use this pitch for any person that ends up being a violent criminal, or the kind of person that beats puppies with kittens, I know plenty of them. Not so good for the pro-life or adoption agenda I guess LOL
From what I have read, it sounds to me like his mother didn't even consider abortion, I've never seen it mentioned anyway, not to mention that abortion was illegal then. It's disrespectful and offensive to him and his mother IMO. I'm sure she could have found a way if she had considered it, but so could anyone's mother, not just those that are adopted. Looks to me like his mother chose to marry, keep and raise him, but didn't get her choice, which is very sad.
We can appreciate all the good things that anyone has done during their life before or after they are gone.
Has nothing to do with adoption. Adoption didn't save his life.
It is disturbing to see people using him, his story, as a sales pitch for adoption over abortion in this way. I do understand that many just don't understand what they are really saying. So many have been fed this rhetoric and I believe have yet to really think deeply about it on their own. The language and ideas of it are clever. It took me a while to see it.
RIP Steve :love:
Dickons
His mother choosing adoption was only because her parents refused to approve her marrying his father and in 1956 adoption was her only other choice.
I am sickened by how his personal private life is being used today all over the internet.
Dickons
I didn't know that..and I think it's pretty cool.
And I am glad it gives you some peace in your decision.
As an adoptive mom I am thrilled to see a positive aspect of adoption out there in the news, rather than the sensational "adopted and foster kids are crazy and damaged and they were given away." :(
As birth and adoptive parents I'd think we all be happy that such inpirational and sucessful adoptees are given this kind of attention and to debunk the myth that an adoptee must have issues and his birthparents must just not have wanted him. Instead the average person is hearing "his bparents lived in an era where they had no other choice and it's not because they didn't want him, and they wanted so much for him, like to go to college etc. And look- an adoptee doesn't turn into some crazy person with issues."
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adriennemarie, The pro-life and pro-adoption individuals are using his adoption to promote life by saying they are so glad his birthmother choose adoption over abortion. No facts needed. No permission needed from him. Just co-opting his own personal story which he did keep incredibly quiet on given his status. If he had wanted to use his life as an example he had the world stage to do that. He chose not to and everyone should respect that. Dickons
I'm sorry. I misunderstood. I thought this was a forum for birthmothers to express their positive experience of choosing adoption over abortion. Although I am sure it will be moved now that it is getting negative responses.I actually DID choose adoption over abortion. My personal circumstances were different as I was a teenager. My entire point was missed and I am not even going to explain myself again. Whether she chose abortion or adoption, that choice is profound and ironic to think about. I don't appreciate being ganged up on when I am trying to make a point to other birthparents. If you are too shallow to see my point then that's too bad.I guess I should just go back to my corner of guilt and shame where all birthmothers belong because we didn't raise our children.I am so tired of the attacks on these forums just for trying to say something positive. And negative remarks about bparents. Quite frankly, I am done with all if you. Its an unfair attack. If I don't feel like I can express my views as a birthparent in the birthparent forum then what is the point.
I'm sorry you feel attacked. I am on a few adoption related message boards in order to learn as much as I can about adoption to be a better parent to my son and to understand as much as I can about his bmom, whom I love. I tend to read and post in the bparent and adoptee sections because I already know about adoptive parents, lol.
Anyway, I have noticed that this board can be pretty anti-adoption (which is fine) but can also be hurtful to fellow b-parents who are trying to gain some kind of peace and affirmation about their decision. I dont think itҒs intentional, but just a result of such strong feelings about their own adoption experience, which was VERY different 10, 20, 30, 40 years ago.
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adriennemarie
Anyway, I have noticed that this board can be pretty anti-adoption (which is fine) but can also be hurtful to fellow b-parents who are trying to gain some kind of peace and affirmation about their decision. I dont think itҒs intentional, but just a result of such strong feelings about their own adoption experience, which was VERY different 10, 20, 30, 40 years ago.
iwagrlVA
I'm sorry. I misunderstood. I thought this was a forum for birthmothers to express their positive experience of choosing adoption over abortion. Although I am sure it will be moved now that it is getting negative responses.
I actually DID choose adoption over abortion. My personal circumstances were different as I was a teenager.
My entire point was missed and I am not even going to explain myself again. Whether she chose abortion or adoption, that choice is profound and ironic to think about. I don't appreciate being ganged up on when I am trying to make a point to other birthparents. If you are too shallow to see my point then that's too bad.
I guess I should just go back to my corner of guilt and shame where all birthmothers belong because we didn't raise our children.
I am so tired of the attacks on these forums just for trying to say something positive. And negative remarks about bparents. Quite frankly, I am done with all if you. Its an unfair attack. If I don't feel like I can express my views as a birthparent in the birthparent forum then what is the point.