| Remember Where It All Began... National Birth | | | | hope and encouragement about the decision she |
| Mother's Day | | | | made. When she sees a happy and healthy picture of |
| Remember where it all began... The landmark day you | | | | her birth child, she has confirmation that her decision |
| became parents... It's pretty clear that the day of | | | | was the right one. The occasional visit, if agreed upon |
| your adoption is not like any other day. It's the day | | | | and handled wisely, can help to balance out the lives |
| you became a mother, your husband became a | | | | of each person involved: the birth mother, the child |
| father and your parents became grandparents. Your | | | | and the adoptive family, by honoring the wishes of |
| life is forever changed and no other event will ever | | | | the person who gave them so very much. |
| encompass all you have gone through to get to this | | | | Should you doubt these truths, seek out some |
| day. | | | | stories on open adoption, speak to someone who is |
| There is someone else who is a very important | | | | a birth parent, or ask your adoption professional for |
| person; someone who had deep feelings of loss and | | | | some references to reinforce your decision to |
| sadness on that day. That special person is your | | | | choose open adoption. Then, honor your birth |
| child's birth mother. She has gone through a great | | | | mother's wishes, always. |
| ordeal to bring you this day. Without her, none of | | | | You are your child's parents, no doubt. But a birth |
| you would have come together. | | | | mother never forgets the birth of her child. Even if |
| All members of the adoption triad will remember this | | | | the child is out of her sight, they will never be truly |
| day vividly and with deep emotion. | | | | be gone from her memory. This woman was your |
| Sadly, it is sometimes necessary to point out and | | | | child's first mother and because of this, your child will |
| remind adoptive parents, or parents-in-waiting that | | | | always remain in her memory and in her heart. |
| these children find their adoptive parents after a long | | | | Consider a gift of the Adoption Prayer Bracelet for |
| and often difficult journey suffered by their birth | | | | anyone touched by adoption. It is a reminder to pray |
| mothers. We must never forget this very important | | | | for all those touched by adoption, and pray without |
| woman who, by strength of character, or difficulty in | | | | ceasing for those waiting to adopt or those hoping |
| circumstances, or both, opted to give the gift of a | | | | to be adopted. |
| child to those who could not have one. For this | | | | Please, take the time to send pictures regularly or |
| reason alone they deserve respect, recognition, | | | | when requested. Whatever your agreement is with |
| consideration, thoughtfulness and kindness, from | | | | the birth mother, commit to it and follow through as |
| those who benefit from their decision. | | | | promised. If you need any incentive, simply look into |
| Letters and pictures, at the very least, are not much | | | | your child's eyes and remember where it all began! |
| to ask and often provide your birth mother with | | | | |