Talking to My Friends and Family About Adoption in MO
Deciding to place your child up for adoption is difficult enough, now you have to explain your decision to friends and family. They will have questions, and you will have to answer them. The first step of this part of your adoption journey is to decide who you want to tell; you can tell as many or as few people as you would like. Our team at Adoption Choices of Missouri can help you navigate this process and simultaneously include your family and friends.
How Can I Involve My Family in the Adoption Process?
The short answer is yes, you can, but only as much as you want to. It can be helpful to have the extra support of your family and friends during this time. The first step would be to explain adoption and the process to your family and friends. Let them know that adoption has changed since its inception and is much more modern than they probably know.
You can also help them navigate the adoption process with you. One of the easiest ways you can do this is to allow them to help you choose your child’s adoptive family. Adoption Choices of Missouri assigns all of their birth mothers an adoption facilitator. Your adoption agency in Missouri will supply you with a range of prospective adoptive families. This part of the decision-making process can be overwhelming, which is why it can be helpful to have assistance from your family and friends. Your family and friends can help you decide on the type of parents you want your child to have and what kind of life you want them to lead. Making this a collaborative effort will alleviate some of your stress surrounding this part of the Missouri adoption process.
It may help explain the different types of adoption to your friends and family. Open, semi-open, and closed are the three most common types of adoption available. If you choose an open adoption, you and your friends and family will be able to receive regular updates about your baby. These updates can come in phone calls, photos, or visits. If your child’s adoptive parents allow it, maybe your family can participate in the visits. All communication is mediated by your adoption facilitator in a semi-open adoption, but you will still be able to receive periodic updates and photos. Unfortunately, there is no communication between you and the adoptive parents if you choose a closed adoption. It may be difficult for your family and friends to understand why you chose a closed adoption, but this decision is entirely up to you.
Open Communication Will Help You Navigate This Time
Communication is imperative during this time. Allow your friends and family to ask questions about the adoption process and why you choose adoption for you and your baby. Regardless of how they may personally feel about Adoption in MO, this decision is entirely your own. Remember, you do not have to tell them anything that makes you uncomfortable.
If your counseling sessions allow, maybe you can bring a close friend or family member to your sessions. This can allow them to get any of their questions answered by a professional. Check with your adoption facilitator first to see if this is even possible.
Allow Your Friends and Family to be Your Support System
One of the most beneficial aspects of involving your family and friends in your adoption process is you have a support system. Making the decision to place your baby up for adoption is difficult in and of itself; having a support system in place will lessen the burden. It can be helpful for you to express your fears and concerns regarding your adoption to people you already know.
As always, if you need help involving your friends and family in your decision to place your child for adoption, do not hesitate to direct them to Adoption Choices of Missouri. Our website and adoption facilitators are available 24/7 to answer any questions you or they may have.
Adoption Choices of Missouri serves birth parents statewide and beyond, please call us or text us to learn more! Call us toll-free at 877-903-4488 or, in Missouri call or text us at 816-527-9800
Meet the Author: Rayna Batiste is an alumna of the University of West Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. Having graduated with honors, she hopes to attend graduate school at New York University, majoring in Journalism. Rayna is also a United States Air Force veteran who enjoys watching documentaries about pretty much any subject, learning, and spending quality time with her family and friends. She is also a fitness enthusiast and an avid Peloton user.
Her hobbies include brunch (yes, brunch is a hobby), fashion, makeup, and of course, reading and writing. Rayna has a real passion for the written word and correct grammar and syntax. She enjoys manipulating sentence structure and experimenting with punctuation in her writing. She’s what you would call a “werd nerd.” She was also recently featured at the Pensacola Museum of Art for her work, entitled Triangular Geometry.
