My last adoption post was 2 years ago on my son’s 14th birthday. I have found myself writing a lot of other content over the last few years and have had a lot of life changes and feel like some of this part of my life is getting lost and well if I am honest my adoption journey had led to so much more.
During my early years with adoption star, I would attend their monthly birth parent meetings which were called Blue Rose meetings. This was a time for us to be altogether in one place and to talk openly about the things we were feeling and the motions we were going through as birth parents.
This was where I found a lot of my support during this time and I couldn’t have been more grateful for it. This was also the place I decided I was going to help and support as many birth families as I could. I then started to hand out my phone number to any birth family member that needed it.
The agency had permission (and still 16 years later has full permission) to hand out my email and phone number to any birth mother that they felt needed someone. I just wanted to make a positive impact during what can often be a dark time. I have since then spoken to class after class of adoptive parents about what the other side can sometimes look like.
I have done interviews and blog posts (https://www.adoptionstar.com/how-one-birth-mother-copes-with-the-holidays-brandys-story/) for the agency throughout my now 16 years with them. Along with one on one mentoring and support building with birth mothers and their families.
All of my positive outreach in the adoption community is what made me begin to do outreach for addiction and mental health in the ways that I have. I began to see that I could help just by telling my story to others and listening to theirs.
I went into Blue Rose ashamed, scared, unsure, and broken. I came out an advocate. I can never thank Adoption Star enough for how well they have taken care of me and so many others or for the amazing things they have helped me accomplish.
I learned a long time ago the wisest thing I can do is be on my own side, be an advocate for myself and others like me.
Maya Angelou
