Quote:
1. Is OA truly better for a child?
2. Is Closed truly harmful for a child?
3. Are parents involved in an OA more "worthy" or viewed as the only ones having their children's best interests at heart better than those who are not in an OA? (applies to both aparents & bparents)
4. Do we push more for OA and if so...what are the main reasons we do so?
|
1. I have no experience with open adoption, but I have always assumed that it would be just as emotionally confusing/complicated to be an adoptee in an OA as it is to be an adoptee in a closed adoption. I imagine that having to build relationships with your biological family as well as your adoptive family would prove to be incredibly difficult. I do not think it is "better" than closed adoption; I believe that both situations present their own postives and negatives.
2. I do not think "harmful" is the appropriate word to describe closed adoption...I would say, though, that closed adoptions do present the opportunity for much confusion and emotional distress on the part of the adoptee. Implying the closed adoption "harms" the adoptee is off base, I think - - more like closed adoption can often lead to an array of related issues as an adoptee becomes an adult. As I said before, OA presents the possibility of certain negative consequences also.
3. I do not think that adoptive parents who choose an open adoption are "better" or morally superior to adoptive parents who chose an OA. Think about the 80's - to my knowledge, there were very few open adoptions because of the shame and stigma and secrecy attached to adoption, so adoptive parents during that time did not have the option of an OA. I imagine that a potential adoptive parent chooses OA or closed adoption based on their idea of what will be best for their adopted child and their family, so I respect that choice either way.
4. I honestly do not know enough about OA to say either way, but I do think that it is becoming the "adoption of choice" - that is to say that more adoptive parents are choosing OA. Is this even correct? I admit that I don't know.
Personally, I have a love/hate relationship with my closed adoption, but I imagine that I would prefer it to an OA.