Open adoption? Never again.

Yes she does, She's only 2 years old. When she's older she may want to know more about her family. She may yearn for it, because it's normal. You can give a child all the love in the world. But birth mom is a powerful thing. They connect, because your daughter want to have a relationship with her mom. You treat the mom bad, that may not be forgivable.

don't even waste your time trying to talk any sense into "parents" such as this "man". The way adoptive parents get so possessive is pathetic. You don't see Biological Parent parents doing that, because then they are actually THEIR children. But APs? Some like this fool can't stand the fact that this baby is not only theirs that he is willing to traumatize his babys mother and in the long run his baby. Everyone that commented on here wrote wonderful advice about how an adoption is NOT just like having a natural birth. How do these couples that are so ready to have a baby do such awful research on what they will go through AND the birth family per different agreement. To deny your kid their birth family because you think this is all about you and having "your family" is fcked up. It takes a real loving family, one that doesn't immaturely/dishonestly/rudely/ and cruelly accept terms to an open adoption, to understand that even if they realized it was easier for them to be closed-->THEY made a mistake and now they should be good people to the ones that gave them their child. To the guy that wrote this post: when love is shared, it multiplies. My mom tells me everyday "you are me" even though we are nothing alike. Try to understand that when this person birthed her baby, her bones/flesh/veins/arteries, she became a mother. She gave her baby to you with trusting arms. Yes she gave her baby away, but she is still a mother. She is the mother of that child, and you made a terrible decision by telling her that she will be able to be in the childs life. Fucking kidnappers if you ask me. Honestly, blame it on your wifes infertility. Don't go coocoo crazy and get all papa bear and cut everyone off like a heartless low class fowl man. Children are not possessions. Even to Biological Parent-parents, they are never possessions. I do not understand this pathetic need of people that can't conceive to be so protective when they get custody of someone's child. insecurity is a pretty lame reason given that were talking about unconditional love here. She handed you her infant. You should respect her and let her know how her daughter is doing. Let her know her interests, because believe it or not, your little girl is going to be a lot like her mother. In many ways like you, and in undoubtable ways like her. That little girl you love so much, is a tiny version of her real mommy. A woman that thinks about her everyday, and if she has any pain at all, it is that the people raising her child have kicked her to the side. She is not a baby machine. She is her mother. The decisions you made were wrong, and the way you think she is disposable is wrong. And let me make one thing very clear for you, since obviously not having any biological kids affects your thinking. Her mother will never forget about her, nor will she be permanently out of her life (unless she died). She didn't get her name tatted on her arm for no reason. The way you assume she "lost interest" is disgusting to me. Is that what your going to tell your "precious baby girl" when she finds out your not her birth parents? That her poor mother that just wants some updates on her life lost interest? She probably felt you were being very unwelcoming and got depressed and gave herself space. What a cold, heart-less world we live in. And its only made possible by people like YOU, clay-whatever-no-loving-fakeparent-douche. Cant wait for the day her mom tells her how you guys pushed her out. Then we'll see who's baby won't be theirs anymore. GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR DEAMONS

So it has been years since I posted in this forum. My daughter is now 2 and half. She is bright, happy, and extremely social. She is a very kind and caring little lady and loves to show affection. My wife and I are blessed to have her in our lives.There have been some really hateful things posted in this thread over the past few days, most of it from people who are probably dealing with their own problems and projecting them upon my daughter and her family.The birth mother and grand parents have faded out of the picture. We continued to send pictures and emails but they stopped responding. It is clear they have moved on. Our daughter has a big family, it will only continue to grow, and it is her decision whether or not to interact with a woman who gave birth to her. We already speak frankly to our daughter about adoption and even though she doesn't understand the concept, we feel the earlier to talk about it the better. That said, we will not use the word "mom" or "mother" to refer to the birth mom as she has not earned that right (when she has her own children). A mother is someone who cares and nurtures. Who wakes up at 4am to comfort a screaming baby who is afraid of a thunderstorm. Who sacrifices her own self interests for the benefit of her child. The birth mother did none of this and, based on what we've seen from her Facebook posts, continues to make terrible life decisions in a toxic environment. They are obese, slovenly, crude, shiftless, and destitute. There is absolutely no way that I will permit such influences for my daughter until she is well into her teens and capable of dealing with it.To be clear: I've said what I needed to say. I understand why a birth mother would want an open adoption. All I am saying is that I would not do it again as dealing with erratic people complicate an already difficult process. Birth mothers have to understand that they are not mothers and have to earn the right to be called that. It might not be today, but maybe in a few years when they have a child they are ready to raise. But getting pregnant and giving birth does not earn them the title of mothers - it is so, so much more than that. I am done responding and subscribing to this thread so more hateful diatribe from a certain mentally unstable person will not be received.

This original post is 3 years old but I'll post what I'd say if I was writing today.Hi,We're in an open adoption as well; our son is 15 months old.We were looking for an open adoption because a) research shows it's better for everyone involved in the long run and b)I fully believe that there is no competition between me and my son's biological mother. I think that's a big thing to remember - why is it so ghastly that a woman who birthed a baby would want to know how she's doing? What's wrong with her being your FB friend? She gave you a baby but she can't see what you're up to on the weekends?I'd say take a step back and consider what your fears are. Most adoptive moms who are vehemently opposed to open adoption seem to be acting out of specific fears/anxieties: will birthmom judge my parenting if she sees it on social media? Will my child want to be with her biological mom if she knows her? Am I intimidated that she could get pregnant and I couldn't (if that's the case)? Do I feel threatened by their unique biological relationship which I won't be able to have?I expect my son's (tattooed) birthmother will likely get a tattoo related to my son as she has for her other children. She does not view my son as hers, but she's my FB friend, tags me in photos of Bennett's bio sister where they look alike, etc. She is very much at peace with her decision as best as she can be, but our open relationship has helped her to move on. Frankly, now, at 15 months I rarely hear from her except for things that have nothing to do with my bio son; she considers me a friend. In fact, when her daughter turned 2 in July, I hauled my then-11-month-old baby boy on a plane with me to Louisiana and we went to the birthday party because she wanted us there and I was able to attend. It was amazing watching my son play with his toddler sister. I think of it this way: how lucky is my baby boy to be loved by so many people? My family, my husband's family, and birthmom's family (bio dad isn't in the picture.)Because we were so openly honest and concerned about her well being and rights before my son was born, we were asked to be in the room for his birth. I was the first person to hold my son and she offered me thirty minutes of skin-to-skin contact while she recovered in the surgical room, and for him to stay with us in a room in the hospital while we waited for discharge. There's a give and take in open adoption and the more you give, the more she will give. The more you rebel against their natural relationship, the more resentment you may create in the long run.If you let go just a little, you might find that she lets go a little herself in the long run.

bclay1974I get where you're coming from. Thanks for the advice. After seeing the response that you got, I realize that an open adoption with no or limited boundaries poses a significant challenge. It seems that it would be important to really set and specify how "open" the adoption would be. I think most that do adopt have huge hearts. It's probably not an easy thing to do without having a lot of love to share.

Its Sad because we have and are still going through the same thing you did. Yes there are haters and usally the people that dont understand and are not in your shoes. For Us your story is pretty much ours, but we are going on 4 years with legal battles over this. Yes people can say we are mean, but we are looking our for our children. What I love is when people tell me you dont really understand adoption - I do I was adopted and would never have wished to have had an open or semi open adoption in my life. If was confusing enough at 19, imagine 4 or 6 that is nuts. Closed adoptions worked until adoption agencies in the 1990 wanted to try and experiment to see how open adoptions would work, this opened up more avenues and more money for these agencies and pushed people into these open adoptions. remember its what is best for this adoptive child.

Whoa. I really hope I don't meet adoptive parents like you on my journey. What a bunch of stuck up, condescending human beings. I pity your daughter.

Unfortunately people like this do exist. But try not to let these types of losers scare you. Most parents that agree to open adoption are very understanding, accommodating, and simply want the best for their child. I did open adoption over two decades ago when it was still a new concept. I was blessed to find wonderful parents for my child. And yes, the child will always be mine. I grew the baby for 9 months and we're genetically bonded. Not to mention I chose the difficult route of adoption out of pure love and selflessness. I'm grateful for contact the parents gave me over the years because it helped me have closure and move on. In fact, I've probably given too little contact for the parent's preferences. Nonetheless, my child has had a fulfilling life with their family and has no questions or resentment thanks to the contact we've kept over the years. Setting proper boundaries are one thing, but the amount of resentment and callousness in OP's posts are disgusting. They are not acting in the child's best interests by having that attitude. And to think the child is 5 now and likely being influenced by OP's hatred for the bio mom & her family. Yikes, poor kid. That's going to be a train wreck when that child is older. Not even from a lack of contact with the bio family but because of OP's hateful attitude which will be passed on to the child. If people don't want open adoption, don't be selfish or greedy and go along with it just to collect a babies like they're Pokemon.

We are looking to adopt as well. Our social worker insisted that we consider open adoption. My reply was very short and to the point-over my dead body. I'm a very plain spoken guy that doesn't pull any punches when it comes to my family and doing everything I can to protect them. I have a client who grew up in foster care and he was the first to warn me against the notion of an open adoption. He confirmed my suspicion that it's nothing but trouble as the child goes home, gets torn between his birth mother, then gets forced to go back to his adoptive parents. Often, the birth parents insist on interfering with the adoptive parent's efforts to correct the child or how the child is being raised, which opens up a whole new can of worms. I finally heard enough that I felt comfortable telling the social worker that if the birth parents aren't so bad that I would have to endure them interfering with my family life, then they should send the child back to live with his parents. I'm hearing more and more stories of open adoptions gone wrong. Just the day before yesterday, a birth mother stole her infant son from foster care. Once the home is too bad of a place for the child, that should be it. If the parents are working on bettering themselves, then the child shouldn't be adopted. He should return home once his parents get their act together. It creates too much drama and does more damage to the kid to tear them back and forth constantly.

Then you go out at three in the morning because mama convinces the kid to run away and come live with her in the motel down by the bus station. You explain to the police why the kid isn't at home where it's should have been all evening. You put up with mama telling the kid that he doesn't have to do this or that because she's his mama and she said so. Then, you deal with the hateful teenager that comes home after going to visit mama down at the motel by the bus station and tears everything off of the wall because "you aren't my mother/father!" If mama is so great, why doesn't she still have her kids? Why should someone who's trying to provide a stable loving home have to deal with all that drama just to pacify someone who can't keep her feet on the floor or stay out of jail? If that's nasty, good. It was meant to be nasty because often these are nasty people who will do everything in their power to make you not want the child and send it back to them. It's bad practice for the everyone in the equation.

Jim, You might consider the fact that maybe not all birth parents are bad. I was just too young to have a baby, so I placed her for adoption. It's been very open and we've had no problems. I respect her parents as her parents, and I'm just there to love her and answer any questions my birth daughter might have. We all just had a birthday party for her together and it was wonderful.

Are you adopting from foster care? In foster care adoptions sometimes one may need to protect more from risks than what a private adoption might require, especially if a child has had difficulty forming attachments due to being moved allot. However, it is important to see both your child and the bio family members as human beings first and foremost. It is natural for a child to want to know where they came from, why they were adopted and whether or not they have other siblings who share their biological make up, their DNA. Openly degrading one’s family of origin is psychologically harmful to children and teens as they are unable to reconcile a parent who says they love them and care about them telling them they came from someone who was no good, worthless, “nasty”. It makes one feel like you are saying that they are descended from refuse...NO! Each child is descended from human beings, yes imperfect human beings with their own challenges and issues, but they are still human beings, and should you be blessed enough to find a good match for you, it will be because that human being though imperfect gave the child the gift of life, which is a gift that any adoptive parent should be grateful for because without that life your arms might just remain empty.

I just wanted to reply to thread. I don't think I've done that correctly forgive me. Do the children not get a voice here? I am adopted. I have a BS in Elementary Education and I have Early Education Credentials.A human that is adopted will have multiple parents their entire lives. If you try to erase or replace any of my parents birth or adopted you try to erase part of me. And that isn't fair. Birds are the only animal that imprints onto the first thing they see. Expecting me not to mourn the loss of my first parents is expecting me to be subhuman. Google identity development. An infant knows that it is a separate entity from the mother between 12-18 months. Having your first emotional attachment forever severed is a tough life experience. If you have to do that to a child there better be a good reason. Closed adoptions should be the exception not the rule. If you're not up for that, get a puppy. Everyone else, go read The Primal Wound. First Mothers and Second Mothers you are both my mothers. You are both important to me. Please figure out how to get along. I will need both of you to be a team.

Speaking as a birth mother some of these comments on this post and in this thread are super offensive. I have an open adoption with my daughter's adoptive parents and we are very close. My daughter adores me and even calls me mommy. Our open adoption is great. Our daughter is loved by her Adoptive parents AND her birth mom and dad. My daughter means the world to me and I chose adoption because I was in poverty not because I didnt want her. I wanted her so badly and it broke my heart to make that choice. Pain I can't even begin to explain. I thank God my daughters adoptive parents and I have mutual respect and they would NEVER say such horrible things to me or about me. They say only good things about me. And they love and respect me and its mutual. This hate and disrespect I see from people towards birth mothers is appauling. Many of us do not deserve such disrespect.

Love how the bio parents stepped out, and your psychotic ass was proven to be a troll. Like sweetheart, love to break this to you but craping out a baby from your genitals don't mean anything. K. Defintely doesn't mean a "bond".