My parents always felt that adoption was a private issue, and I was raised to keep it to myself. (As an aside, the daughter of my mother's friend was left at the altar when she told her fiancee that she had been adopted- this was in the 1970s.) As I became older, I did share the story of my adoption when I felt it was necessary or appropriate to a conversation. Fortunately, I've never received any negative comments.
Now that DH and I are in the adoption process, I am much more willing to share my family's story, and the reactions have all been good. It seems that my decision to pursue adoption has also enabled my parents to be much more comfortable with open conversation as well. I do think part of it was the 'secrecy' that used to accompany closed adoptions- now I can't get them to stop talking!!
