[angieandstever]

I should first say I am a reality TV junkie, including pretty much anything MTV. Anyway, I just watched this episode tonight and recommend all parents who have adopted watch it but especially though with children from Guatemala.

There was a girl who was about 20, who was placed for adoption and separated from her twin sister. Wow, talk about an emotional reunion! She traveled to Guatemala with her mom who adopted her and met her sister and the rest of her family. It was really a great episode. I don't want to spoil everything so I will just say watch it!

[Mum2Diego]

We just watched it too. Talk about tears. I was so bummed I didn't think to record it for my sons.

Very neat to see. We had just had another conversation this evening about searching for our sons' birth mothers. Very timely.

[michelemk]

I tried to find it on the True Life website. Do you know the title of the episode? Was hoping to watch it online.

Michele

[mommyto2guatboys]

I just watched that today it was so good, it made my husband and I teary eyed. We have met my youngest son's birthmom and are starting a search for our oldest sons and this really hit home. I too couldn't find it online, it is called looking for my sibling. I looked it up on the menu and found it and DVR'd it.

Magen

[shoegirl06]

Thanks so much for posting this! I DVR'ed it and just finished watching it with DH. We're fortunate to be in contact with one of DD's sisters, but DS is a different story. I'm still wiping the tears from my face -- it was wonderful!

[RyannB]

Holy cow, I am watching it now, and the Guatemalan family lives 15 mins from here!

[2xaround]

Originally Posted by RyannB

Holy cow, I am watching it now, and the Guatemalan family lives 15 mins from here!

They live about 20 minutes from us. Obviously, we're both in Central IL.

[matthewsmom0505]

Crazy! I didn't see the show, but on our first visit trip we met a lady and her daughter (adopted from GT as an infant about 18 years ago) who had the same story. They found her twin when she was five and they make regular visits to see her and her family. Their birthmom died when they were young and an older sister was raising the twin sister. Amazing . . .

[RuthC]

I couldn't find it online either but just scanned ahead and it looks like it's on again tomorrow (Thursday) at 9am. I don't have recording capabilities and have to work. Shoot....and I have twins from Guatemala, separated and reunited by my adoptions...this could have been their story. Any ideas?

[angieandstever]

Keep checking Ruth. The good news is MTV reruns these shows over and over again so you are bound to catch it on a day when you can watch. Good luck! It is a tear jerker!

[LJR1974]

I just watched it. Amazing.

I was a little confused about the circumstances with the twin in Guatemala. Was she also adopted (domestically)? Or was contact severed only b/c of Reina being adopted?

I thought it sounded like the twin in Guatemala (can't remember her name) introduced her "madre y padre" to Reina. Maybe I was mistaking the twins.

It still was an amazing story. I felt a bit sad in the end for Reina. I got the feeling she felt a bit torn between her life in the US and her birthfamily in GT. Understandable, but a tough situation.

[Betelnut]

I only saw a few minutes of it but the part that struck me the most was that the adopted child couldn't speak Spanish very well. This made me sad and sort of mad at myself because I know that, unless I make some sort of effort, Iva will face the same problem.

I live in an area where, I know it may be surprising to some, there aren't very many Hispanics (relatively speaking). I tried to find a day care provider that speaks Spanish but wasn't successful. And frankly, I wouldn't want a day care provider who wasn't fully bilingual (because I need to be able to communicate with him/her too!)

What to do? Find children's Spanish tapes/DVDs and play them for her a few times a week? Move? (I want to move back to Texas anyway, so this may be part of a solution.) Look harder for a Spanish speaking day care?

[RyannB]

Originally Posted by LJR1974

I just watched it. Amazing.

I was a little confused about the circumstances with the twin in Guatemala. Was she also adopted (domestically)? Or was contact severed only b/c of Reina being adopted?

I thought it sounded like the twin in Guatemala (can't remember her name) introduced her "madre y padre" to Reina. Maybe I was mistaking the twins.

It still was an amazing story. I felt a bit sad in the end for Reina. I got the feeling she felt a bit torn between her life in the US and her birthfamily in GT. Understandable, but a tough situation.

It said her Aunt adopted her in GT.

[Anne1377]

Wow! What a powerful story. I, too, spent much of it in tears.

I am so happy that we have ongoing contact with Annie's birth family and after watching the show this morning, I know that I have to plan a trip to Guatemala to visit with them very soon!

Diane

[LJR1974]

Originally Posted by Betelnut

I only saw a few minutes of it but the part that struck me the most was that the adopted child couldn't speak Spanish very well. This made me sad and sort of mad at myself because I know that, unless I make some sort of effort, Iva will face the same problem.

What to do? Find children's Spanish tapes/DVDs and play them for her a few times a week? Move? (I want to move back to Texas anyway, so this may be part of a solution.) Look harder for a Spanish speaking day care?

I know what you mean. That struck me too. At the end it said she planned on studying Spanish over the next year and returning to Guatemala.

There are a lot of schools in our area who are either now Spanish immersion or begin teaching Spanish in kindergarden. Is that an option for you? I realize without many Hispanics in your area it may not be a priority for your schools. That's the only other idea I had.

Thanks, Ryann, for clarifying.