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I have not posted in these forums before, but I have decided that I may get some desperately needed support...so here goes
I am 32 yrs old and have worked very hard over the years at trying to come to terms with what my life has been all about. I still have mixed emotions about my adoption and cannot seem to come to any type of peace about it.
I was adopted as an infant into a home that was supposedly a "good" home, but that was not the case. Over the years I have tried to accept the horrible memories of my childhood and have come to accept that there is nothing that I can do to change them. I know that most adoptee's have loving homes, but mine was not. I suffered physical and emotional abuse that still to this day has left many scars.
Obviously, given my horrible background, I was driven to try and find who my birth parents were. I started my seach at age 16 with looking for my non-identifying info. I became pregnant when I was 18 and was able to get information about my bparents that was of no real help. It only stated that they were 14 and 16 at the time of my birth, no medical information available.
When my son was 2 years old he was diagnosed with a terminal genetic illness that had been passed on to him through my genes. Since my bmother was still of childbearing age, there was an emergency search done to find her. Needless to say, our renunion was very difficult, and to this day, I really don't have any type of relationship with her. I struggle with our lack of communication. I really had hoped for acceptance from her and her family, but there was not. I have a 1/2 sister that I met when she was younger, but she did not know who I was. That was 10yrs ago now,and she would be close to twenty.
I have found out that this horrible disease has been part of my genetic family for many years, but has only been identified within the last 15yrs. I have come to accept that I was just unlucky in not being able to know about my genes, I do not blame anyone, but I do long for a relationship with my bmother and also my half sister. How do I accept that my bmother wants nothing really to do with me? How do I accept that she doesn't want any of her family to know about me? especially her daughter?
I have questioned her over the years about my father, but she has been very vague. This has been a huge source of tension between us. I even asked her if she had been raped (thinking that this might be the reason that she was ashamed of me) but she became very angry and said no. She has given me my bfather's name and his general whereabouts, but due to his profession it is very difficult to locate him. Should I try and pursue finding him? Or am I just asking for more dissappiontment and rejection? I can't even say for sure that my bmother has been telling my the whole truth.
I feel that I am a very strong woman emotionally, but when it comes to issues surrounding my birthparents, I feel like I'm always on a roller coaster. I can't seem to accept things and move on. Can anyone tell me how to do this?
Tlee 70 I feel your pain and it is my desire that you find peace. However I know that peace wont come easy for you, but I think it will one day come to you. I am aware that you are a surviver and have much to give your family because of your past. Hang in there dear lady. You'll beat this and go on to help others, I'm confident of that. Lord knows you have helped me. bprice215
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Hi Bprice
Nice to hear from you and thanks for the uplifting comments! I haven't been coming here so much lately, been very busy over the summer.
I also feel that I am coming to some sort of acceptance..believe it or not. Acceptance that my relationship with my bdad will never be what I had hoped it would be. I've come to realize that alot of it had to do with my unrealistic expectations and part of it has to do with our lack of ability to understand and communicate with each other on a deeper level.
I have learned over the years that dreams are seldom close to reality.
I hope that things in your life are postive and that you will hear from your daughter at some point.
Thanks so much for the post..miss chatting with you, don't be a stranger. I have found that if I just don't think about my relationship with bdad and not involve him too much in my life then I can put it all aside easier. I have another thread posted here about my relationship with bdad ..not sure if you have read it, but you can find it at
[url]http://forums.adoption.com/showthread.php?t=196836[/url]
take care
tlee
But she didnt deserve to hear that from me..Im bitter..I think she should Thank me. But I do share other adoptees pain..we know what it feels like to be rejected. But I try and not let it control me.
tlee 70 i to came from an abusive adoptive home i think its really difficult to know that other adopted people came from a loving adoptive home and then theres someone like me that came from abusive adoptive home and then theres my birthmother who doesnt really aceept me either its like theres like nothing left
tlee 70 i to was put in an abusive adoptive home so i understand how it feels and then my birthmother didnt really want me either so that made me feel sad i wonder is there anything that a person like me can do to make myself feel better about being rejected by both parties
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Please note that this thread is more than a year old and you may not receive replies...
Plants,I am sorry that you have been so hurt through out your life.You deserved the very best and you were betrayed.
I am so GLAD you are here though;~))
Adoptees ROCK!!!!!!! lol JMO
Hi plants!
Glad you could stop by and read this old thread :) Boy...being adopted sure comes with a vast array of emotions!!
It's such a long process..working through your feelings of rejection. I truly believe that counselling and a strong network of friends is what has helped me along the way.
It's still upsetting at times..esp around the holidays, but every year I seem to work through a little more of my baggage and come to a clearer place of where and who I want to be.
I've learned that the only person that I can count on to validate me..is me. We don't always get the tools we need from our childhood to cope as an adult, but we can learn these skills ...sometimes it's painstaking, but we can learn them.
Best of luck to you
Tlee70
thank you tlee 70 for talking to me and giving me some help i really appreciate that i dont know if i spelled that word right appreciate but thanks again for help
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plants
tlee 70 i to was put in an abusive adoptive home so i understand how it feels and then my birthmother didnt really want me either so that made me feel sad i wonder is there anything that a person like me can do to make myself feel better about being rejected by both parties
Plants -
[FONT=Verdana]I'm a bmom in reunion with bson. Reading one of your posts about your aparents ripped my guts out, I feel for you, I really do. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]I do want to put some thoughts your way, but bear with me, because although you say your bmom doesn't really want you, I don't know all the details. But maybe you can relate to what I'm about to say.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]My bson searched and found me. Intially the euphoria, then rapidly came the depthcharging of his life experiences, his responses to his adoption and other issues. He'd been put in boarding school (double rejection) and abused there by other pupils. He became anti-social and violent. He's been on drugs for at least the past 10 years and his drinking is getting in the way of us having a relationship, as I can't cope with the moods and unpleasant things he says when he's under the influence, but I do understand its his way of numbing life's pain.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]Although he says he loves me and understands why I gave him up for adoption, his anger issues and his inability to cope with things including having met me, has made him turn on me and I can't handle it. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]Having read the Primal Wound (Nancy Newton Verrier if you want to look) has given me valuable insights into my son, but all the same, I can't handle the effect that his drinking has on his moods and emotions and he took it out on me recently and it just blew me away. Its not that I don't want a relationship, but emotionally he could destroy me. Is it possible that your bmom has distanced herself for the same reason? Is it possible that a second chance may come your way/with my son & myself/ once those issues are worked through?[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]Plants - you have had such a bad experience and my son has such emotional damage, that he in effect is pushing away the very thing he wants. He expects me to be able to take anything he wants to put my way and emotionally I just can't, its taken me nearly 30 years to get some kind of emotional balance after being forced to relinquish him. Is it possible that your bmother is finding she can't cope with your anger over being adopted by such awful aparents?[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]Its a bmom's worst nightmare finding a son so emotionally damaged. In my case, in relinquishing my son, I hoped that he was given a great life - we reassure ourselves over the years, to help us cope with the suffering we go through for the rest of our lives (my experience and a lot of others) - my goodness, if my son found me and told me what you had been through, it would rip my guts out. I'm not sure how it would have slowed down or even made me stop during the reunion process, because reunion is a huge thing to handle anyway, even without the issues that clearly have affected you and him in a big way.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]Are you able to empathise with this situation? If I'm totally down the wrong track, then forgive me, but perhaps all is not lost. What appears a rejection now may have chance to be recovered? I know I have to distance myself from my son for the minute and I don't know how long it will take for me to heal - both from being a bmother that never came to terms with losing her son and one that is almost overnight besieged by a son with such emotional problems that have made in nigh impossible for me to cope with. I'd like to, but I'm finding I can't.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]I read a similar experience as yours in the national newspaper - a priest described his childhood and his vile father - his mother committed suicide, effectively leaving him to it. What he went through beggars belief. But the cruellest cut of all is that he found out at the age of 13 that they weren't his biological parents, he'd been adopted. I don't know your whole story, but like the other response to your post, I sincerely hope that like that (now) priest you get some relief. My heart goes out to you, i can understand why you are so angry and why you feel so. Keep posting, tell us how you are getting on... please.... perhaps some of the thoughts may be food for thought, but if not, I don't say anything to hurt you. I would however, like to know how you are.[/FONT]
Hi Jannyroo
I just wanted to say thanks for responding on this thread, as I don't believe that plants is able too.
I read your response...and I also value a bparents perspective.
I have had lots of anger over the years towards both my bparents and aparents. I have lashed out at my bparents before... because I didn't really know how to show my pain. They really didn't understand and of course took it very personally. The damage is done and still there is no understanding....
Over the years I have learned that detachment works very well in helping to get over the pain and anger. Open communication is just not a option....never has been with either of my bparents.
Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks for your input, it nice to hear the other side.
tlee
Honey,
I feel so bad for you. I know how you feel because I was adopted also, but, I had a good mother. A single woman adopted me and I grew up without a Dad.
After my mother died, i wanted to know about my birth parents. I found my Dad just before he died. My 1/2 sister would not let me meet him and I was totally rejected. Yes, dear, I too know how much it hurts when you are rejected. I cried & cried. I had heard of so many wonderful reunions and I was very hopeful. Then BOOM after all the searching.
Well, one day I was crying and feeling sorry for myself and the Lord spoke to me. He reminded me that I had a Heavenly Father that loved me SO much more. This fact helped me to heal. Yes, hon, HE loves you too. I hope this fact will help in your healing from your hurt.
Blessings,
Sonseeker70
I am currently reading Nancy Verrier's book "coming home to self"...it's a hard read! This book is a followup to the primal wound, which I read awhile back. I found that it has helped immensely in understanding and validating my feelings. I would recommend these books to all sides of the triad. I even got the courage up to send it to bmother (at her request) ..wish I could say the same for my bfather. I really think he fails to understand at all :(
thnxs for reading my post...even though it's quite old
tlee
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just read your post and the threads
all i can say is i'm so sorry for your losses and sorry for your birthmother as well - she will never have the healing and peace that comes with knowing you either
you sound like a strong, intelligent woman and i wish you the best in your healing process...
thanks djvj.
I haven't read this thread for a very long time..not even sure how up to date it is regarding my reunion story, but every once in awhile someone posts on it.
I have to say that my bmother and I have REALLY tried hard this past year to make strides in our relationship. It's very slow, but I am hopeful that maybe we will grow closer?? It's ironic...part of me wants to be closer..and part of me wants to run!
I believe that she is starting to heal, to what exent, I'm not sure. We talked about the "primal wound" book on a few different occasions and she wanted me to send it to her....so I did. I haven't heard from her since she recieved it, so I"m getting a little freaked out about that. I can say that I"m relieved that the book puts my feelings into words very cleary...I hope she can understand that. I guess if she doesn't...I'm no further behind than I was before??
I am seriously thinking of sending the book to my bfather, but I"m sure he would just think I"m trying to "make him feel guilty". I think I'm just frozen where bdad is concerned....can't reach out to him, he totally destroyed any trust I had in him and I just can't risk reaching out to him again.