Getting a Little Wild with Blogging—on Four for Friday
1. Becoming a Parent, prompt for NaBloPoMo Day 9
Did becoming a parent change your perception of adoption or being adopted? Or did it strengthen what you already believe or feel? … How has being adopted affected your own parenting philosophy?—today’s Lost Daughters prompt
In young adulthood, I thought I would adopt a baby. That worked well enough for my (adoptive) mom, so why wouldn’t I adopt? I thought this was the normal way to “get” a baby.
This may sound silly to say now, but it took me a while to recognize that it wouldn’t be betraying her and her options, for me to get pregnant.
Did having a baby change the way I think? Hell yeah. But in a totally unexpected way.
When I finally held my newborn baby after all that waiting, I knew I could never let her go. Ever. …
While recovering in the hospital, I thought back to my reunion with my birth mother. I knew on an intellectual level that she’d never forgotten me, that she’d thought about me all those years.
But after carrying my baby girl for 40 weeks and three days (!), and giving birth, I began to understand, deeply, viscerally, just how difficult it must have been for my natural mom. To have carried me, to have held me briefly on the day I was born, and then to have surrendered me.
With motherhood came new-found respect and empathy.
2. Adoption Discussions radio broadcast
Radio show host, Donna Montalbano and I chat about “perfect little ballerinas,” adoption, and Adopted Reality. Be sure to take a listen to this 25-minute interview while you cook dinner or check your emails today.
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3. Writing about Adoption—Guest Posts …
So, what else have I been up to? Geez, I’ve been doing no new writing for my next book. But, I have been doing a lot of blogging for National Adoption Awareness Month.
- Taking a Break from adoption blogging and from the reunion itself, a compilation with the Lost Daughters contributors
- From Elizabeth Craig’s popular writing blog … Adoption in Fiction, Part 1 – Issues & Problems and Adoption in Fiction, Part 2 - Potential Solutions
- The Write Practice - helping NaNoWriMo writers with their adopted characters
- Lost Daughters NaBloPoMo Day 8 Adoption in Fiction
- Over last weekend, Expats Blog “An Experience Shared” interviewed me, added plus: photos of my crazy children
4. Newsey news …
Here are some other great posts from around the web:
- Do Mothers Think of Children they Surrendered to Adoption? at The Declassified Adoptee, check out the beautiful video (keep a tissue handy)
- NaBloPoMo Day 8 – Adoption in Fiction by Rebecca Hawkes
- Why do I read so much at talk about adoption so much on my blog? Here’s Jenn talking about the same thing on The Lost Daughters
Fascinating stuff here from Laura, she speaks from experience and constant re-examining of her past and upbringing. I think such writing is not just a means for the reader of empathizing with another's story (and indeed history) but also a means of increasing awareness and knowledge i.e. it's educative.
Thanks, Alan — Yes, I hope I can educate with my writing, but I better yet, I want to tell a good story — first and foremost!
Laura
Great interview!
Hey, Trace – thank you! I was so worried about what my voice sounded like, but Donna (the interviewer) is actually really good. — Laura
It's really powerful to hear how your experience of pregnancy gave you more insight into your natural mother's experience. Thanks for your post.
Addison Cooper recently posted..Safe At Home? Adoption Movie Review: Angels in the Outfield
Addison Cooper recently posted..Safe At Home? Adoption Movie Review: Angels in the Outfield
Addison,
Yes, it gave me insight and sadness. But that's not to say that I could completely understand giving away a baby … Thanks for reading and commenting!
Laura