[MommaKatja]

I saw it today. I was prepared to hate it and didnt. I didn't love it and I have issues with parts of it. But it's not heinous. If you choose to see it in a theater I suggest matinee prices and of course it may be wiser to see it after the holidays. As for it being a comedy, it did make me laugh. Perhaps not as much as others but I did find the humor.

[Blessed2x.]

I saw it last night. My perspective as an adult adoptee will be different from other members of the triad. I did enjoy it. It was funny and heartwarming at times. It was also unrealistic too at points. I did feel sad throughout the movie knowing the long term feelings that would go along with the adoption for everyone. I cried when the young bmom cried after relinquishing the baby as the bdad hugged her. I almost want to see it again.

[thanksgivingmom]

I saw it last night also...I did a more comprehensive review of the movie (and my experience seeing it) on the blog, but I will tell you: I laughed more than I thought I would, and I cried more than I thought I would. The moments just after the birth were incredibly hard to watch, but so touching.

Like blessed said, I almost want to see it again, but I'd in no way be ready again just yet.

[keds]

I'm hoping to see it tomorrow but from friends and my daughters (who have yet to write back to their older brother) who have seen it - they enjoyed it. Sometimes, IMO I think I take myself to seriously as a bmom and movies are an outlet that reminds me that I'm neither alone nor my experience is unique.

[keds]

TG mom - sorry, I read your blog and thoroughly enjoyed it and I'm definitely going to see the movie tomorrow night (beats watching t.v.). Anyway, the thing that struck me the most was your comment about going alone. I often go to dinner/movies alone and I am so comfortable with it and it is now other people who aren't. Especially in restaurants, people ask me to join them, etc. Over the holidays was the first time in a long time that I felt self-conscious. I went to see PS I love you and I was seated a few rows from the front and saw an older lady (about 15 years older than I) seated by herself and the people around me (and it was obvious I was by myself) made a few comments. That hurt me more than anything else! That will be me in 15 years!

I'll let you all know what I think about the movie but I have a feeling I'm going to enjoy it.

[thanksgivingmom]

Not sure what you're apologizing for keds read away!

I can go to the movies alone or to eat, doesn't bother me at all usually. It was more my paranoia that others would know specifically why I was alone at that movie (which I understand is completely ridiculous).

I really did enjoy the movie, and I hope you do too!

[agathaj]

I saw it and hated it. OK so Juno had a lot of funny lines - that's the humour but as a birthmother I could easily write the second part - Juno in 10-15 years-time and this movie will not be funny. This movie will just make everyone think that adoption is just a blimp in a birthmother's life and that she can move on, forget and smile and play guitar on the steps of boyfriends' house. It was a private adoption and there was no counselling...nothing. No acknowledgement from the bgrandfather that he had just lost his first grandchild. Oh yes, and the bfather's parents weren't told...It was totally unrealistic and will make people think that adoption doesn't have a whole set of issues attached to it.

[Blessed2x.]

good points, Agatha!

[susieloo]

Yay the movie finally came to NZ!! Couldnt wait to see it after reading this thread earlier in the year.
Well, the acting was great, filming great, music great, one liners great, but the final scene left me with a bittersweet taste.( The guitar scene...)
As a birthmum I think I will join agatha in writing " JUNO the sequel". One who hasnt been thru the experience could quite easily walk awy from the movie thinking, " Well didn't that all work out well"..........NOT!
Susie.

[dvalentine]

i really enjoyed Juno. since i'm in the middle of the same ordeal, it was fairly refreshing to see a happier/light-hearted approach to the topic. the humor isnt for everyone, but to those of us (myself included) that try to remain upbeat, and occasionally cynical, about emotional subjects, its a cute flick.

[Scarlet Moon 13]

Originally Posted by dvalentine

i really enjoyed Juno. since i'm in the middle of the same ordeal, it was fairly refreshing to see a happier/light-hearted approach to the topic. the humor isnt for everyone, but to those of us (myself included) that try to remain upbeat, and occasionally cynical, about emotional subjects, its a cute flick.

When I was 15, pregnant, wanting my child and shuffled off to live with my grandmother. I see nothing funny about losing a child to adoption. The closed system of the 1970s adoption was hell. No one spoke to you, there was no counseling, no threapy, no one ever spoke of it again. Or if and when they did, it was years to late to do anything about it. I was lied too, forced and treated as though I didn't exsist.

I couldn't live without my child and within 6 months was trying to get pregnant again. I went looking for a husband. Married the first man who would have me.

I married before he was one year old. He was born in Feb 1964, 16 days after my 16th birthday. I was married 6 days after my 17th birthday. My daughter was born less then 9 months later in 1965. My last child was born in 1967.

So though I found the trailers kind of cute, I won't be seeing this movie.

[agathaj]

dvalentine, if you are in the middle of this then all I can say is please, please try to parent...The impact this has had on my life and on my family and kept children etcetcetc therapy, years of trying to understand, work through the pain etc, it is so not worth it.....compared to the hard work of parenting - i'dtake parenting any day because there are soooo many rewards and the cuddles and kisses and proud moments when they get up on stage and sing off key or draw you a heart on a ripped piece of paper or when you snuggle up to them in bed because they had a bad dream i could go on....lol

[6boysrus]

I saw Juno and I'm an adoptee. What touched me the most was the reality of facing an unplanned pregnancy. In this abortion saturated culture, what a positive movie depicting the most unselfless act of love by a mother- adoption.

I dont think this movie was to hit the spot regarding the aftermath of the suffering that occurs. Rather it depicted the reality that abortion is not a solution to an unplanned pregnancy.

I laughed, I cried but most of all, I walked out with confirmation that my mother's decision to place me was done for her love for me- and it has been the most unselfish gift that anyone could ever make.

She gave me life because she valued that more than anything and gave me the opportunity to live my life as God had intended. For that I am ever so blessed.

I also saw Bella, I would also recommend that movie.

[Scarlet Moon 13]

Originally Posted by 6boysrus

I saw Juno and I'm an adoptee. What touched me the most was the reality of facing an unplanned pregnancy. In this abortion saturated culture, what a positive movie depicting the most unselfless act of love by a mother- adoption.

I dont think this movie was to hit the spot regarding the aftermath of the suffering that occurs. Rather it depicted the reality that abortion is not a solution to an unplanned pregnancy.

I laughed, I cried but most of all, I walked out with confirmation that my mother's decision to place me was done for her love for me- and it has been the most unselfish gift that anyone could ever make.

She gave me life because she valued that more than anything and gave me the opportunity to live my life as God had intended. For that I am ever so blessed.

I also saw Bella, I would also recommend that movie.

It isn't wise to assume that anyone who gave up a baby even considered abortion.

Adoption is NOT the alternative to abortion. You either keep and raise your child, or you give them up for adoption. Abortion does not work into the equation.

People who get abortions would get one no matter what.

Most young woman who give birth for what ever reason, then want a baby, they love the father or wait until it is too late to be forced to abort. Becasue they do not under any circumstances want an abortion.

Most of the time, not all of course. But most of the time they want to keep and raise their own babies and that is what they hope will happen.

Even in the days when abortion was illegal, women could find one if they wanted one.

Depending on your age, the year you were born in, has more to do with the reason for adoption than anything.

We give birth becasue we love our babies.

For me I wasn't given a choice, I was forced to give up my son. I was lied too, kept in the dark, and railroaded.

It was not an unselfish act, I wanted my son, I would rather have been a selfish ***** and kept him if I could have, rather then give him away.

Becasue if giving up a baby is a unselfish act, then keeping one is selfish.

More woman I know personally, and I know in the flesh over 100 bmoms. Having met them, they said they would give anything to go back and change it all and keep their babies.

If god had wanted you to have another mother he would have given you a different woman. God doesn't make mistakes, humans do.

I don't believe god would deliberately casue so much pain and unhappiness to any woman just to make someone else happy.

That is my personal opinion I don't expect anyone to agree with me or change their opinion.

But having lived this side of adoption and being half adopted I have a pretty clear picture.

Sorry, but this is how I feel. Not meant to flame anyone.

[agathaj]

I think the topic is so sensitive - how could it be a comedy? I guess it was finding humour in this difficult situation but did the writers even talk to a bmother or two to see what their experiences were like? They could have mixed the funny one-liners in with her visiting a counsellor etc and as for bf's parents or her mother not knowing that is not right either. The Bf's parents could have decided to support their son in parenting and baby would have stayed with his dad...Why do teens think they can't parent? I know some people who were great teen parents. It was just too easy breezy, skirt around the big issues and give teens the impression that adoption is the easy solution to an unplanned pregnancy...