memoir, adoption
Skip to content

Freedom in Standing Your Ground (Sometimes Adoption & Reunion Ain’t Pretty)–Part 1

by Laura on July 4th, 2013

Sometimes I publish letters from adoptees, but today I have one for adoptees …

A love letter, with a message that may be hard to read …

Dear (Possibly Terrified) Adoptee,

Do you seek acceptance at every turn, afraid of rocking the boat that is your life with your adoptive family?

Once you found the courage to search and find … did you then fear upsetting the precarious apple cart that comprises your reunion?

Have you been pussy-footing around your whole life?

If yes, then today’s post if for you.

I’ve been wanting to talk about True Colors in reunion for some time, and Deanna Doss Shrodes’ recent Reunion Story got me all riled up inspired. It’s now time put on your big girl panties and high heels (and possibly some other clothes, but maybe not)*  and step over the imaginary boundary that is “adoptee acceptance.”

For Wheaties-esque adoptee fortification, read today’s post here and tomorrow’s at Adoptee Restoration, and commence with Operation Stand Your Ground.

Sincerely,

Your friendly neighborhood adopteed girl fully empowered adult adoptee.

Standing your ground in sturdy sneakers: $40.
Standing your ground barefoot: $0.
Standing your ground in fabulous high heels? Priceless.

Operation Stand Your Ground

Laura – You’re coming off a two-week marathon blog series–relating the entire story of your relinquishment, search, resistance to reunion (on the part of your first mom), and finally … reunion. But the drama and trauma doesn’t stop there. Readers can catch up on Deanna’s Reunion Story here.

The first thing I want to ask you is: How are you feeling about all of this?

Deanna – Laura, I’m feeling stronger than I’ve ever been, and weaker than I’ve ever been, at the same time. It’s the strangest dual existence. My therapist says it’s normal. I’m not a freak. I have to keep asking just to make sure. Being an adoptee does feel so alien at times. This dichotomy I refer to is a result of the most recent trauma I’ve faced regarding my adoption, my first mother’s cancer diagnosis, and the decisions I’ve been faced with as a result. I have no up and down feelings about writing and publishing my story. No regrets. It’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Not only was it amazing catharsis for me, but many people are telling me how they have been touched in a profound way by it.

When speaking one’s truth rubs others the wrong way

Laura – It’s so amazing how freeing speaking your truth can be. It empowers others to follow suit, and even if we adoptees don’t have the same experiences, they are similar enough that we can lean from one another and grow.

Speaking of shared experiences, I want to address a touchy subject, one that those in the adoptee community may discuss internally, but that we don’t often address in a wider audience.

Adoptees have to overcome so many obstacles–logistical and emotional–during search and reunion. Then, once the Reunion Honeymoon Period is over, the real work of relationship building begins. There are decades of life to make up for, different lifestyles, habits, value systems. Not to mention the possibly unaddressed post-adoption issues, which definitely influence how the relationship progresses.

I find so many adoptees are just so happy, relieved, ecstatic and yes, even grateful to have reunited, that they will take whatever what they can get. (The same can go for first moms who seek out a reluctant adoptee.)

But here’s the rub: at some point an adoptee may begin to be unwilling to accept the terms that are being offered.

Like you said in your story, you never asked your first mom for anything (let’s not even go there and address ignorant folk who claim that all we want is to go after biological family inheritance). Not. one. thing. You accepted her as is, you loved her from the start. You still love her.

But ohhhh, the moment an adoptee comes further out of her fog, starts asking questions that no one wants to hear. She sets a boundary, or simply holds an opinion that doesn’t tow the birth family party line … well, that’s when the bowel movement hits the fan and fecal matter starts flying.

Why do you think it is that other’s can’t handle adoptee “misbehavior”?

“Family Systems” for adoptees? Ohhhh, this diagram only starts to explain it all.

“In Relationship” vs. “Active Relationship”

Deanna – I believe in some ways it’s an unwritten rule that we can come back into active relationship with them on their terms. (I always like to say “active relationship” because one is always related to their first family whether they are actively in relationship with them or not. So we are always “in relationship” just not always in contact.)

We are relinquished, which we had no control over. Many or even most of us did a stint albeit a few weeks or months in foster care, which we had no control over. We then enter an adoptive family we did not choose for ourselves, which we had no control over. Through the adoption, in one day we lose EVERYTHING – our entire original family, heritage, our original name/identity, etc. – all of which we had no control over.

We enter that family system and we hear, “This is the way we do things here” and we are expected to adjust and fit into that, even if it is dysfunctional. And again, we have no control over any of this – we are a child. It is communicated whether verbally or by unwritten rule: “This is our family system – now acclimate.” Again, we have no control and are expected to tow the line, accept and be grateful. Grieving is never given as an option. Adoptees are the only people-group in society who are expected to be thankful for tragedy.

Sometimes we don’t fit at all or we don’t fit in certain significant ways but those around us don’t ask us how we feel or bend to us, we are always expected to be the flexible one.

Taking that into reunion, we come back into a family system that has already been established. “This is the way we do things around here” is what is communicated to us once more – whether there’s a verbal indication or not – we quickly get an understanding of the family structure. Let’s face it, a lot has happened while we’ve been gone. And once again, we are expected to adjust. If we do not, we get pushback, or we may be rejected. The bowel movement hits the fan and the fecal matter starts flying because we are trying to assert some control for perhaps the first time in our lives.

When the fecal matter hits the fan …

 Both families have always been used to us being the one without the power and now we start to come into our truth and stand up for ourselves and it’s like, “Whoa, whoa, whoa…hold on there…who in the hot place do you think you are telling us what you think or how it’s going to be?”

Yeah. THAT’S what’s up, people. Somebody just found their voice.

Sometimes as an adoptee you don’t feel fully connected to either family. Perhaps there are some that fully embrace you on either side, but not all.

This is one reason I am so passionate about the family my husband and I have created with our children. It is the one place I always feel fully connected, with each individual in the family – without exception. It is a place where I have an equal seat at the table. All of us long for that.

Laura – Thanks so much, Deanna!

I can’t wait to chat more with you tomorrow, July 5, about approval, acceptance and the misnomer that is “Reactive Attachment Disorder,” all on your blog, Adoptee Restoration!

*  *  *  *  *

* For the men: gather up your big-boy super hero underpants and some fecal matter-kicking shoes.

“Lovers Mail” by nirots, “High Fashion” by Maggie Smith, “Electric Fan” by Master isolated images, and “Business Network” by cooldesign, from freedigitalphotos.net

Share
8 Comments
  1. Great post, Laura! And a great discussion of challenges that we face as adoptees as well as (I would venture to say) as women. Finding our voices, expressing them even if it doesn't please others, and claiming our place as separate and unique individuals.

    This is particularly challenging for adoptees because, as you and Deanna rightly allude to, the image of adoptees in the mind of society (and most families) is of a child: a perpetual child. Adoptees grow up. Who knew! :-)

    Looking forward to more on this topic from y'all…Karen

  2. Starr permalink

    Laura,

    Great post. You so accurately described how I have felt all my life and have experienced the "push back" you mention from both families as I have started to stand my ground. It's like a bomb went off and everyone scattered and I haven't even been mean about some of the things that I had every right to mean about.

    I am too weary after many years of playing "compliant adoptee" and no longer wish to cater to those that aren't interested in connecting with the real me. It feels so good to be authentic for the first time in my life.

    I just wish I'd have figured this out much sooner and gave myself the permission to just be me….not who others wish for me to be. I wonder if we are cognitively unable to make "the stand" until we are older. Many of us seem to be close in age. Just something I've been pondering.

    Thanks for your courageous post. I was a message I needed to hear.

  3. Greg permalink

    Amazing piece by two amazing people!

    Deanna is so right when society expects adoptees to be thankful for being adopted. Just like any person who deals with any type of grief dealing with a loss, it seems perfectly NORMAL for an adoptee to be thankful for what their AParents provided them but still hurt from being adopted. Even as an outsider to adoption this makes perfect sense to me.

  4. Nice writing piece. I like your relationship concept, I enjoyed it very much. In regards to adoptees not having control or choice in connection to separation or being adopted, I offer a concept for further articulation. Parents adopt, the child adapts. ;)

    http://johnjgreene.wordpress.com/2012/10/02/adapt

    ~John

  5. Howdy porn. I uncovered a person’s blog page utilizing ask. That is a very efficiently published write-up. I will ensure that you book mark them and come back to get more information of your respective practical data. Information publish. I’m going to certainly come back.

  6. Do you mind if I quote a few of your posts as long as
    I provide credit and sources back to your weblog?
    My blog site is in the very same area of interest as yours and my users would definitely
    benefit from some of the information you provide here. Please
    let me know if this okay with you. Thank you!
    maurers recently posted..maurersMy Profile
    maurers recently posted..maurersMy Profile

  7. Well it is the best ever way to express the feelings that you are our having for someone that is special in your life. I would defiantly like to give a try to the same thing that you have done.

Leave a Reply

Note: XHTML is allowed. Your email address will never be published.

Subscribe to this comment feed via RSS

CommentLuv badge

Notify via Email Only if someone replies to My Comment