(Newswire.net — December 5, 2021) —
Wondering how to find your birth parents? You’re not alone.
Adoption affects nearly 6 million Americans, according to research. For various reasons, many adult adoptees have actively sought out their birth parents. Some people want to learn more about medicine, while others want to learn more about their family history. Adoptees, on the other hand, are genuinely curious about who their birth parents are and what they are like.
It’s only normal for an adoptee to wonder about their birth parents. Whether your interest in your origins began as a youngster or grew later in life, they can linger in the back of your mind, prompting you to seek answers. (And that’s just fine!)
In today’s world, practically all adoptions are open or semi-open, obviating the necessity for adoptee search and reunion. Both adoptees and birth parents have benefited immensely from open adoptions in terms of emotional well-being.
The yearning to learn more about your biological family isn’t as simply solved for adoptions that took place before most adoptions were closed.
Before you start looking for your biological parents, ask yourself why you want to meet them. Do you have any concerns regarding your medical or family history? Are you curious in the origins of your eye or hair color? Or do you require a sense of completion?
Are you looking for a one-off encounter or a long-term relationship? Your motivations for getting together are just as important as the search itself. It’s critical to double-check that you’re prepared.
Once you’ve made up your mind, speak with your adoptive parents about your plans. They may be able to assist you with information on your birth family as well as advise or thoughts on your decision to track them down. They may, on the other side, feel rejected, in which case you can reassure them that your decision has nothing to do with the love and support they’ve given you.
They may have copies of your original birth certificate, recall information about your biological parents that will aid your search (such as their age, name, or birthplace), and have contact information for the lawyer, agency, or social worker who assisted in their adoption.
This is also an excellent opportunity to talk to your family about the feelings that looking for birth parents can elicit. Explain your intentions, reassure them of your own relationship, and chat to them about the process; this will be beneficial to both you and them.
You should be able to contact that County Courthouse to search through that day’s birth certificate records if you know the name(s) of your birth parents and their approximate ages, or data regarding your birth, such as the hospital, day, and county of your birth.
In certain cases, merely contacting a family friend of a friend or a distant relative who knows your birth mother’s name might be highly beneficial.
While many people begin their search with the expectation of a great conclusion, this does not always happen. Here are some possible consequences to think about:
• You are unable to locate any information. It’s possible to come up empty-handed after a search, even if you have your biological parents’ names and a lot of resources.
• They are no longer alive. Adoptees may discover the death of a birth parent or family member in certain circumstances.
• They do not express a wish to meet. It’s possible that all of that work and effort went to someone who doesn’t want to have any contact with their own child. Take the time you need to process your emotions and seek consolation from others around you if this is the case (while respecting their decision).
• You learn about a birth parent who has a shady past. You must select how you want to go, whether it is with substance misuse or with other worrisome conduct.
• It’s been a long time since we’ve seen one other. They don’t hesitate to accept you into their lives.
Because there are so many different ways your quest can finish, it’s critical to create and keep realistic expectations in order to prevent being caught off guard by unexpected feelings.
The search for your birth parents can elicit a wide range of emotions. Whether you’re afraid, excited, anxious, or overwhelmed (or all of the above), making the most of any outcome—positive or negative—is the greatest approach to navigate your path.
Even if it doesn’t turn out the way you hoped, you can rest assured that you did everything you could to discover answers and that you will always have the support of everyone who assisted you in your efforts. That is a wonderful conclusion in and of itself.
It takes some trial and error to figure out how to discover birth parents in a closed adoption, but finding birth parents for an adopted kid can be a crucial step in filling in the gaps left by closed adoption. While an adoptee search isn’t for everyone, it can be a good approach to learn more about yourself and your adoption story for many people looking for an adoption reunion.