[blessedbybug]

Thanks Dawn for writing this... worth publishing as others need to read it too... blessing to you Madison and Jessica...

[sneezyone]

Thanks so much for writing that and for sharing it with us. It so closely mirrors my own feelings during the 1st year...

[MisterD820]

All I can say is Wow... (Being the guy, I won't sniffle until everyone leaves the room). Got me thinking... a lot.

[coco46]

Originally Posted by moominmama

I'm a member who really has always mostly lurked but while we were waiting for Madison checking out these forums was always a highlight to my day.

Also the forums introduced me to Brenda Romanchik's work and she had a profound influence on the positive way our open adoption has worked out.


Dawn

Dawn...I'd also encourage you to submit this to "mainstream" publications like "Parents" and "Parenting". They so seldom publish anything balanced about adoption, particularly open adoption, and I think this would be a perfect opportunity to show them how it's REALLY done!

[bluedaisy]

I have to say it kinda bugs me that this article was pasted into this bulletin board instead of just being linked to the site where it was published... it's a total violation of copyright laws, and not really fair to salon.com, which paid Dawn to write this article.

It is a good article, though!

[alwaysus]

The article made me tear up. I had some of the same feelings during our 2nd adoption. I felt guilty that I felt so good because someone else felt so bad. I have come to terms with it though.

Fantastic writing.....

[Kitti]

Thank you Dawn for writing this.As a birthmother from the time of closed adoptions I needed to hear that someone looked at their child and thought of the birthmother. It feels like so many times our smiles, that are reflected in the children we both love are often overlooked. We are real, we love, we hurt, and our birthchildren are part of us forever. Thank you for being you. Madison is a very lucky little girl.
Kitti

[mamacrina]

SO many of your thoughts in this article have been mine at one time. Thank you for shedding light on this.

[sugarbabysmommy]

Please, please submit this to print media, like Coco suggested. I have never read anything in popular media (and adoption books don't count) that so closely reflected my experience of becoming a mom. People just don't get it, how and why these feelings exist, and that even with their existense we still move forward, our relationships still evolve.

Thank you Dawn.

[moominmama]

Thanks for the encouragement re., submitting this to print media. The first place I sent it (New York Times Modern Love column) rejected and the next on my list was Salon. Salon retains rights for three years so I can't submit it elsewhere. But I think they get a broad spectrum of people in their audience so hopefully the people who need/want to see it will see it.


Dawn

[FauxClaud]

I heart Dawn!

[moominmama]

Claud! Hey! I heart you back!!!

[SchmennaLeigh]

I just wept.

*nods*

Beautiful.

[maxkinzie]

I had to catch my breath when I started reading this, so much is totally "Us", even the names, spooky. Thank you for writing and sharing this, for putting words to some of the feelings I've had along the way!
max

[joskids]

I am struggling also and cannot express what it meant to read this.
Thank you, Dawn!!!!!!!