Why Birth Mothers and Adoptive Parents Choose Open Adoption
Open adoption is becoming increasingly popular in the adoption world. A closed adoption can feel mysterious and final, but an open adoption allows for answered questions and open communication.
At Adoption Choices of New York, we frequently help birth mothers and adoptive families with their open adoption journeys. If you’re wondering why birth mothers and adoptive parents choose open adoption, then you’ve come to the right place.
What is Open Adoption?
Open adoption is a type of adoption that allows for direct contact between the birth and adoptive families. Personal information is also more out in the open. Every open adoption looks a little different because birth mothers and adoptive parents can choose to communicate as much or little as they like. While some may become close, others may prefer to communicate only as needed. In other words, as long as it is helpful for the adoptee.
Why do Birth Mothers Prefer Open Adoption?
Many birth mothers might prefer open adoption because it doesn’t feel as mysterious and final as closed or semi-open adoption. While a birth mother in an open adoption still surrenders her parental rights, she can look forward to a future relationship with her child. She can also build a relationship with her child’s adoptive parents.
Open adoption gives the birth mother a level of control over her adoption plan that she might not feel with other types of adoption. Through open adoption, the birth mother can decide how much contact she wants with the adoptive family, how they will communicate, and when the first visit should be.
Other birth mothers might feel immediately ready for in-person visits with their child, wanting to let him or her know how much they are loved. This kind of birth mother wants her child to know her. She wants to share who she is and to have a connection to the adoptive family. She may even want the door open for the adoptee to decide how much of a relationship he or she would like with her.
Why do Adoptive Parents Prefer Open Adoption?
Adoptive parents prefer open adoption primarily for the same reasons that birth mothers do. Like the birth mother, adoptive parents want to get to know the mother of their child. They know their child will feel better knowing who their mother is, and knowing firsthand how much she loves him or her — even if she could not be a parent to the adoptee. They don’t believe the myths about adoption. That is, they know open adoption doesn’t mean that the birth mother is going to change her mind about adoption.
Another reason why birth mothers and adoptive parents choose open adoption is that they see value in their child knowing where he or she came from. Adoptive parents who choose open adoption know their child will be happier feeling loved by both his or her adoptive parents and birth mother. They appreciate the birth mother for choosing them to raise her child.
Are You Ready to Choose Open Adoption with Adoption Choices of New York?
Adoptive parents and birth mothers are choosing open adoption more and more frequently because it opens new doors and tells the adoptee “you are loved.”
When the birth and adoptive families get to know one another during the adoption process, it can take so much stress out of the journey. With closed adoptions, everything is unknown. But with open adoption, both parties can get to know one another and trust in the adoption process.
At Adoption Choices of New York, we can help you navigate your open adoption journey. Together, we will figure out what works best for you and your child. Are you ready to get started?
Adoption Choices of New York is available to assist with your adoption plan. Call us, text us, email us; we are here for you!
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Meet the Author: Tara Giuffre has always loved reading and writing and grew up in the worlds of Narnia, Harry Potter and A Series of Unfortunate Events. Taking this passion for stories, she received a degree from Rutgers University in Journalism & Media. Besides writing, she likes long walks on the beach, spending time with her family (and her cat, Sansa), and baking the perfect loaf of bread.
She enjoys sharing vital information about adoption and birth mothers choosing adoption to families making important choices for their future family!
