[irvy]

It's not about "possession" or "owning," it is about protecting my child from hurt. Like it or not my family will come together in a way that is different from others of my friends and family. I feel that it will make things better all around if they can be educated to the realities of those circumstances. A more educated society is better all around.

I guess I'm confused about what in my wording made you think that it was a matter of possession. I would refer to my child as "my child" regardless of the circumstances of his/her birth or how he/she joined my family.

As far as the announcement I can't wait to tell everyone I can think of that I'm a mom and that is the purpose of an announcement - that doesn't change just because I didn't conceive or birth the baby.

I do appreciate the wonderful responses I've received and I thank you for your input but I think that you misunderstand my intentions.

I have read and re-read this response and I hope that it doesn't across as a knee-jerk reaction. I let it sit on my screen for a while to make sure I still wanted to say everything and in this manner. I hope that my respect for all opinions is evident and have expressed these things as my opinion.

Nancee I think my point is that I don't want my child to be known as "the adopted child" but I also refuse it to be a secret as though the means of the creation of our family is something to be ashamed of. I think that my family needs to be aware of some of the innocent things that they may say without thinking about it that can be hurtful.