As a Birthmother in an open adoption, I loathe those commercials. I do applaud them for portraying adoption in at least a semi-positive manner, but they make me want to scream. Open adoption is not a band-aid for pain. It is not easy. Promotion is one thing; portraying it as a rainbow-filled institution is something completely different.
And no, I have NO idea on how to find a happy medium between promotion and false-portrayal. Working for the media, I know how hard it is to portray ANYTHING in the right light in a :30 spot (or less, as our station airs on of these adoption commercials in TEN SECONDS). I don't know the solution. I know I should be elated, again, as the birthmothers are being shown as successful, happy, functional human beings. But they hit a nerve, I suppose. It's not all rainbows. But it's not all sadness.
Okay, in arguing with myself here just now, I've come to the conclusion that I don't loathe them. They're "okay," at best. I think more could be done but I'm not their production agent.
