Domestic Adoption - Designated/Identified Adoption Program

Designated Adoption Stories

My husband and I are thrilled to share our open adoption experience. At first, like many people, we had our reservations about open adoption . But, after we attended a workshop and observed a panel of “real people” in an open adoption our concerns were really put at ease.

We can honestly say our experience has been bigger and better than we could have imagined. We are so fortunate to have such a wonderful relationship with our son’s birthmother. She has blessed us in so many ways, we can’t imagine not having her in our lives.

We are all pretty easygoing so we have kept the openness of it pretty simple. In our case we talk a lot on the phone and usually it is just about life in general. We get together when it works for everyone’s schedule. My husband and I typically send photos once a month, depending on what big events may be going on…birthdays, holidays etc.

We are very strong advocates of open adoption because we realize the importance for our family to have a relationship with our child’s birthparents. Our hope is that when he has questions about his adoption some of those questions can be answered by his birthparent(s). In other words, he will never be left not knowing the reasons why he was placed for adoption or who his birthparent(s) are.

Open adoption, from the outside, can be difficult to understand but it is truly what you make of it. No open adoption is the same; what works well in one open adoption may not work for another. We wouldn’t have it any other way!

By Todd, Lisa and Ty