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While I adore Scott Simon, I'm sorry you ended the hour with his perspective.  Scott is very positive, but very "young" to the adoption story.  His perspective is that of youthful idealism. His children are young and he has not, and may never experience the more difficult and heartbreaking aspects of adoption. But those heartbreaking stories are out there in spades.

He stated more that once, "Adoption is not a trauma".  That statement is akin to a man saying childbirth is not painful.  Adoption is a trauma, for both the infant who is separated from his/her birthmother, and the birthmother, who must relinquish her child - often a decision made under extreme duress.  

As an adoptee I will say, unequivocally, that the trauma experienced at birth, and the subsequent feelings of always being on the outside, have colored my self-image and shaped my relationships in monumental ways.  

I suggest Scott read, THE PRIMAL WOUND, by Nancy Verrier.  

posted 2 years, 7 months ago
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I was born in 1956 in Paris, France to French parents.  At five days old I was handed to two American parents who traveled to Paris upon hearing of my birth.  If was friends of friends that put my adoptive parents in touch with the doctor.  

I've spent the past fifteen years actively seeking information about my biological family in France.  It is possible I was an "X" Adoptee, meaning my mother paid for complete anonymity by not being required to sign her name to any documents associated with the birth or clinic stay.  It's possible her name is written somewhere, but I don't know that.

I created a web-page in 1999 which documents the facts as I know them and many have emailed me as a result of finding my site, but none with information that led anywhere.  www.neuilly-sur-seine.org

I also have a Facebook page, Born in Paris, France 1956.

I feel as if I not only lost my first family, but also my heritage.  

My daughter also gave up a child for adoption at age 18 months.  Her story is similar to that which was shared above. 

posted 2 years, 7 months ago
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