[Jody M]

Hi Patti from Jody and thanks for sharing what has been and what is in your "adoption suitcase" on your lifelong adoption journey. It is not uncommon for parties in adoption to have apprehension or fears of those on other sides of the adoption triad. When I was growing up in the 50's/60's/70's many adoptions were closed adoptions. Sadly persons often did not know one another at all in adopting- adoptive parents and birth parents did not meet or know much about one another. I believe this may have caused persons to even feel like adversaries instead of persons who made an adoption plan. I have worked in adoption support group work for the last 12 years- I have not seen adoptees leave their adoptive parents for their birth parents. Of course many have searched and found and some have had a "honeymoon" time in reunions that often does not keep that intense for the long haul. In my situation my adoptive mom and I grew closer after my reunion for then we shared on this unspoken area of adoption we ignored through the years. It is rare that I have seen adoptees move in with their birth parents- I have seen it a couple times- but it was short lived.
It is important to name your fears- for then they can be looked at/processed and coped with and not become bigger than life.
Blessings Patti and hope others will share what is in their "Adoption Suitcases" previously and today!

Jody Moreen