When it comes to adoption, many people aren’t sure entirely what to expect. There are numerous read books, blogs and websites you can read that explain the process, and we encourage doing as much research as you can. But adoption is an emotional, complex journey and the best way to learn is through others’ lived experiences.
We scoured the Internet to find some of our favorite quotes about what adoption is really like from those who know best: adoptive parents, birth parents and adoptees. Check out their inspiring — and honest — words below.
“Not flesh of my flesh, nor bone of my bone, But still miraculously my own. Never forget for a single minute, you didn’t grow under my heart but in it.”
– Fleur Conkling Heyliger
“Adoption is complicated, but it is also rich with narratives of strength.”
– Jillian Lauren
“Families don’t have to match. You don’t have to look like someone else to love them.”
– Leigh Anne Tuohy
“A child born to another woman calls me mom. The magnitude of that tragedy and the depth of that privilege are not lost on me.”
– Jody Landers
“Adoption is all about letting go because it’s not about me at all; it’s about this kid and their story.”
– Sutton Foster
“Adoption created out of necessity and love is an ocean of grief mixed with the wild desire to move forward. We have to feel it all.”
– Anne Heffron
“The adoption journey doesn’t end when your adopted child is finally in your arms. The journey is one that never ends. It is a journey filled with joy and it is a journey filled with heartache. It’s the realization of one dream and the loss of another. But, is adoption worth it? Absolutely.”
– Christina Romo | Adoptee
“I can’t think of a single negative thing to say about having more people to love your child.”
– Angelina | Birth Mother
“[Adoption] carries the added dimension of connection not only to your own tribe but beyond, widening the scope of what constitutes love, ties, and family. It is the larger embrace.”
– Isabella Rossellini
“Birth mothers have to accomplish in one day the monumental task of letting go that most parents have 18 years to figure out.”
– Unknown
While we love the words we’ve shared, we recognize that these are just snippets of larger conversations. The best way to get to learn what to expect with open adoption is by engaging with adoptive parents, birth parents and adoptees.
If you are considering working with Adoption Advocates, whether as an expectant parent or adoptive family, we are happy to connect you with clients we’ve worked with in the past. Connecting with others who have been in your shoes is an important part of your decision-making process. By speaking directly with someone who has placed a child for adoption, or parents who have adopted, you’ll be able to get unbiased answers to your questions, and get insight into areas you may not have considered yet.
