CONTACT WITH THE BIRTH FAMILY – After adoption, how open would you be?
A question we never really considered when we chose to adopt through foster care.
A question posed to us yesterday.
A question we have to answer before Monday.
A question we desperately need help in answering.
Here’s the story!
Last night, we met with Lil Bit’s Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and State case worker. The State is seeking to terminate the parental rights of the birth mother due to a mental capacity issue. On Monday, the State will be meeting with the birth mother to discuss her options of State termination versus her voluntary relinquishment.
In this meeting, the State wants to present to the birth mother as part of a voluntary reliquishment, the option of a semi-open adoption. The State also want to present continued contact to Lil Bit’s great-aunt.
Steve and I have come up with this first laundry list of birth family contacts –
How could each of these individual contacts in this list affect Lil Bit’s future in our family?
- Occasional daytime phone communication
- Letter correspondence
- Electronic communication
- Photosharing website (Shutterfly) or other photo exchange
- Invitations to birthday parties or birthday visit
- Christmas time visit
- Extracurricular activities/performances
- Attending cultural or family events/celebrations with biological family
Please, please, please let us know your experiences with birth family contact/communication!
Thanks for all your support and prayers during this process. Hopefully, the end is in sight!
Hugs!
