For adoptees unsure of searching...

I don't know who you are, or why you are reading this page. I only know that for the moment, you're reading it, and I am glad. I can assume that you are here because you are troubled or curious and considering finding your family. If it were possible, I would prefer to be there with you at this moment, to sit with you and answer all of your questions, and tell you you are not alone. I have known a lot of people who are adopted and have found their parents, including me, so I have some idea of what you might be feeling. While we are together here for the next two minutes, I have some things I would like to share with you. I won't argue with you about whether you should or should not look, the history of adoption or the politics behind it, but I assume that if you are thinking about it, you must want to. You're here and reading this. In a study of American adolescents 94 percent wanted to know which birth parent they looked like. (American Adoption Congress, 1996) Օ adoptees wanting to obtain identifying information regarding their biological parents is a normal and common aspect of being adopted. In a comprehensive study of the issues involved in adoption, 95% of the adoptees who were surveyed expressed a desire to be found by their birth parents. 98% of the adoptive parents supported reunions between their adopted child and members of the adoptee's birth family. (CWLA, 1998) Everyone has a right to know who put them on this earth and why. Knowing who you are related to and having those people in your life are two different things. Life is too short to dwell in the unknown. Everything is a dice roll as to how your reunion will be or your search will end. Just know that everything you may think you know about yourself may not be true. Non ID info is notoriously inaccurate and you should have a right to see your own birth certificate. Everyone else has that right. Every adoption is different and sperm donor siblings also find great joy in knowing each other. Your adoption story may not have started with your consent, but only you can decide how it will end. :loveyou: