You may also have the opportunity to write a letter to your birth child. What would that letter look like?
The adoption process has evolved a lot over the past decades. Today, birth mothers and fathers have more opportunities for continued contact than ever before. We are talking about Open Adoption. An open adoption means that information may be shared between birth and adoptive parents. You are encouraged to stay as close as you feel comfortable. However, the degree of openness is completely up to you.
It all starts with the adoption plan.
Creating an Open Adoption Plan
Creating an adoption plan is the beginning of a life-long journey, for both the birth parents and the adoptive family. An adoption plan allows you the opportunity to map out your adoption journey, from choosing the adoptive parents to determining the level of openness with which you are comfortable. Creating an adoption plan gives you the opportunity to pursue your future goals without much interruption and, perhaps most importantly, provides your child with A Family who is highly screened as well as emotionally and financially prepared to raise a child This does not related to OPEN ADOPTION but only to the creation of an adoption plan on the whole. And this process is constantly evolving.
An open adoption, for example, allows birth parents and adoptive families to correspond, share photos, videos, family history and monumental life moments. You may also have the opportunity to write a letter to your birth child. What would that letter look like?
Writing a Letter to Your Birth Child
You are encouraged to send letters and pictures to Adoption Makes Family to be given to the adoptive family. But what do you say? How do you write a letter to the son or daughter for whom you have created an adoption plan? How do you even begin?
- Speak from the heart. Say what you feel and be as open and honest as you feel is appropriate. Make the letter reflect you as a person.
- Be truthful. Let your adopted son or daughter know why you chose adoption. Let him/her you love him/her. You were simply not ready to be a parent at that point in your life.
- Your feelings. Using appropriate and positive language, let your adopted child know how the adoption process affected you.
- Family history. Your adopted son or daughter may like to know a little bit about their family history. Where do they come from?
- Your life. Give your adopted child some information about yourself. Who are you? What do you do? How is your life?
- Stay positive. Even though everything about the adoption process or your life may not be positive, try to remain positive in your letter. Do not talk disparagingly about adoption or your child’s biological father. Be honest, but be positive.
- A personal touch. Considering writing the letter by hand to give it a more personal touch. This tiny little detail can mean a lot.
- Include a photo. Finally, include a photo of yourself.
Need Help?
Remember, you are not alone. Adoption Makes Family is here to help! We are a non-profit (501-C3) licensed adoption agency based in Maryland. Our adoption counselors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for your convenience. If you would like our advice or just need to talk, please give us a call at any time.
24-Hour Hotline 410-683-2100
If you have any questions about how to write a letter to your birth child, you can contact us by e-mail – dr.kirschner@adoptionmakesfamily.org – or use our online contact form. Adoption Makes Family was founded to meet the needs of birth parents and adoptive parents in a manner that is sensitive, compassionate, and personal.