We’ve asked hopeful adoptive parents about their hopes and dreams for 2012. We’ve asked open adoption agencies for their tips for hopeful adoptive parents for 2012. Now it’s birth mothers’ turn: What’s the one piece of advice you would offer prospective birth parents and adoptive parents in 2012?
Gina Crotts, Birth Mother Baskets
Adoptive parents, update yourself on ‘how not’ to be scammed by a birth mother. 2011 was filled with too many sad stories of this happening to innocent couples. Be honest with your birth parents.
Birth parents, make the best decision for your baby. If you place, become an adoption advocate and help us teach the world what adoption truly is about, love.
My advice for birthmoms is if you hope to have an authentic open adoption with your birthson or daughter, remember that you are also signing up for an open, authentic relationship with his or her adoptive parents. Keeping in mind and acknowledging that the parents you chose are the only “real” parents will give the new adoptive parents the security to freely open their homes and their lives to you.
My advice for adoptive parents is to be straightforward and honest about what kind of relationship you are willing to have with the biological parents of your adopted child/children. Its a common mistake among hopeful adoptive parents to promise openness and then get cold feet about really opening their homes. Remember, its best for you and your child to have a healthy, open relationship with your child’s birth parents. But the relationship should be based on honestly, healthy boundaries and mutual respect in order for all parties in the open adoption relationship to fully reap the benefits of openness.
Jenny Treanor, Birth Mother Baskets
Birth parents, don’t be afraid to do the right thing. You have the power to change the stars, not only your baby’s but yours too. Be proud of your decision, be proud of your baby and be proud of yourself!
My advice to prospective birth parents is choose a reputable adoption agency or adoption lawyer to go through. Don’t be afraid to ask for everything once you have found a prospective family.My advice to prospective adoptive parents is if you promise something to the birth parents, then follow through with your promise (i.e. if you are to give pictures do not let Facebook be the only way to provide pictures, or think that the crappy pictures you don’t want are the ones to provide to the birth parent).
My words of advice: Remember that every decision you make needs to be about the baby, it is no longer about you. It stopped being about you when you conceived. So if that means making a very hard choice like placing is in the best interest for the child, then that is what needs to be done with love. The peace will come in knowing you were mature and honest with yourself.
Now it’s your turn: What advice do you have for prospective birth parents and adoptive parents in 2012?