[gusfch]

Shadeinfla,

I think most of the girls when I was at the St. Pete FCH were in the 15-19 years old range. Maybe a couple younger or older. I only remember one who may have been 21.

No, it wasn't awful. In fact it was a great way to go through pregnancy. Lots of girls going through the same thing at the same time.

Remember the year you're asking about. 1968 was the Viet Nam war, hippies, flower power, free love. Central Florida was not a hotbed of radicals but it did have it's effects on the youth. The mothers would have been born in the 50's and the social stigma for out of wedlock pregnancies was still extremely strong among their parents. It was mid 70's before that started easing.

gusfch

[shadeinfla]

Hi gusfch

Thanks so much again you have provide insight for me! Just a clarification my hubby was born in 1958 not 1968. So the stimga was certainly present. Thanks again!

Shade

Originally Posted by gusfch

Shadeinfla,

I think most of the girls when I was at the St. Pete FCH were in the 15-19 years old range. Maybe a couple younger or older. I only remember one who may have been 21.

No, it wasn't awful. In fact it was a great way to go through pregnancy. Lots of girls going through the same thing at the same time.

Remember the year you're asking about. 1968 was the Viet Nam war, hippies, flower power, free love. Central Florida was not a hotbed of radicals but it did have it's effects on the youth. The mothers would have been born in the 50's and the social stigma for out of wedlock pregnancies was still extremely strong among their parents. It was mid 70's before that started easing.

gusfch

[MKHope]

I was adopted out of the FCH in Sioux City, Iowa in April 1968. Is there anyone out there who was there around that time too that could possibly help me w/getting info on my birthmother? I don't think she stayed there very long because supposedly no one in her family knew of her pregnancy. Sounds like she just went there to have the baby? Thanks for any help you may give.

[FCHmom]

I was in the FCH in Savannah, Ga. during the months of Feb.,March, April and May of 1966. I had a son that I was brainwashed into giving up without ever seeing him I have grieved ever since then. I tried to et him back the day after I blindly signed the papers, but was told I couldn't. His birthday is May 15, 1966. I named him Charles Eugene Kelly on his birth certificate. If you're looking for me, please, please send me a message.

[FCHmom]

Things were not bad in the home. We had plenty to eat and it was very comfortable. I met some very nice girls. The youngest that I can remember was only twelve. I was sixteen. We were all lonely for our families and scared because we didn't know what was ahead. Back then we were not told anything about childbirth. I do remember being told by the women running the home and by my caseworker that it was wrong of us to want to keep our baby. They told us how bad we were to have gotten pregnant and the only way to make up for that was to give up our child. They told me that my son was going to a wonderful home right away. I found out later that he wasn't adopted out untill he was three months old. I was told alot of lies during my stay and made to feel that I was a terrible person.

[FCHmom]

NayNay.....Thank you. I didn't mean to make it sound as if my stay was so terrible. The two women who ran the place were nice to us, it was just that they were so busy and so elderly. At a time when we really needed someone to talk to, we only had each other. It was a lonely and scary time and I guess I have blocked out most of it, as I can't remember alot about the place. It was almost as if I was a robot going through the motions. I do have one good memory and that was of a girl who went out with her parents alot and would bring back a strawberry pie from Shonies each time. Also, on Aprils Fool day, the girls would play tricks on each other.

[ProudMother65]

Originally Posted by nickychaz

My birthmom stayed in the FC home in St. Petersburg, Florida in March of 1968. I am curious and would like to find out what her stay was like. Are there any birht mothers out there who stayed in a FC home and would be willing to share her story ? I have so many questions. Did you use real names ? Were you treated well ? Were you normally from the area that the home was located in ? I would love to hear from anyone with insight.

Would be glad to share with you I was in a FCH in youngstown for 6 months in 1965.

[FCHmom]

Today is your birthday. I know you are out there somewhere, wondering why I gave you up. It was not by choice, believe me. I loved you the minute I found out I was carrying you , and still do. I just hope and pray that I will get the chance to see you and hold you just one time before my life is over. Happy Birthday, Son, I love you.

[rosepetal2]

Do you remember a Bambi that was there??

[kswidan]

I remember sewing my maternity clothes,2 outfits, making a layette out of soft flannel that my mother bought me. She didn't tell me the baby wouldn't be coming home. My stepfather threatened me not to tell since I was 12. I sat on a bus alone and scared, never away from home before on my way to Savannah from Albany GA. When I arrived, the housemothers showed me donated clothes I could pick from. Showed me a ward with several other girls to my bed. I never got a mail from my mom, I wanted to write but I didn't have a nickel for a stamp so I would recycle stamps from the trash and reuse them. I was put on kitchen duty, making scrambled eggs in a big pan or oatmeal in a huge pot for everyone. I remember learning solitaire from an older rich girl and she called me stupid because I couldn't get the concept. We took tours of the old Savannah homes, were treated to dinner sometimes from charities. We went to the Pirates house restaurant and I remember the dessert with sparklers and peach leather, a dried peach treat.
Sometimes there were movies, we had samores one day but I needed a nickel for the chocolate so I didn't get a samore. I was too embarressed to tell anyone I didn't even have a nickel. Still no letters, no money.
I went into labor and was taken to the hospital. I remember the horrible embarressment when I had to be shaved while in terrible pain by a big black woman who was mean and yelling at me. They laughed at me when I told them my age. I was strapped to the flat gurney and my back hurt worse than the labor as I struggled to be on my side to ease the back pain.

I remembered a strange feeling of echoed sounds as the ether was put over my face, was that my voice screaming? The next thing I knew, a nurses aide was bringing in the baby girl wrapped in a blanket. I held her for a few minutes not even understanding that this was my daughter, my baby, because I was so young. Then a nurse came in and yelled at the aide, I remember her saying, My God, she's not supposed to see that baby! and whisked her away.

I received almost rehearsed sympathy back the FCH. I was torn about 9 inches and had to have a sitz bath and a heat lamp to heal. Shortly after, I received a call from Ms Bargeron, one of the housemothers. My family had moved to Michigan and I was being flown there. My school transcripts would be fixed so they appeared I was in school instead of a home in Savannah.

My mother had an apartment. My stepfather was still there, I had a room with my sister, 4 years younger than me. I had grown up a lot, and realized he had gotten to my 12 year old sister. I confronted him, told him that I would kill him if he touched her again. We moved to a rent house. My sister never confided in me but she had a nervous breakdown at 16. My mother knew about my stepfather but never did anything to protect me or my sister. I didn't find out she knew until I was married and my boys were teenagers.

They divorced and he remarried but was caught molesting his own girls, he killed himself before he could be prosecuted.

My mother passed away but never confessed to me that she knew. She told my older sister. My younger sister Shelly, is a seamstress, has children and I believe she is happy in Michigan but I haven't talked to her in a long time. I was married 25 years to a wonderful man, I have two wonderful sons and three beautiful grandchildren. I work for an oil and gas company in Houston and plan to retire next year at 60.

Somehow, I made it through all this, I had to. By the way, it wasn't my first pregnancy. I was pregnant at 13 by my stepfather and had a son in Columbus GA at a hospital there, also adopted out or sold by my mother and stepfather in secrecy. I lost my teen and preteen years, I was threatened and my mother and sister were. I thought I was protecting them by staying silent. I sacrificed for them but I honestly don't think my mother would ever have believed me anyway.

If you're out here, Katherine Edith Walsh or Flint, April 12,1966, I hope you did okay and I'm sorry. If you're out there Joseph John Walsh or Flint, December 12, 1964, I'm sorry, I was just a little girl and I hope you did okay.