In 1956 Lois Nelson, a 16-year-old high school junior, walked into the Salvation Army Booth Women’s Home and Hospital, a safe haven for unwed mothers, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Before she knew she was pregnant, Lois ended her relationship with the child’s father. By the time she told him, he had married his new girlfriend.
Adoptee Voices | Vanessa’s Story of Family, Identity, and Self-Discovery
I remember being 8 years old standing in my mom’s kitchen with my two older brothers when she all of a sudden said to me “you’re adopted.” As I sat there confused, she began to explain what that meant. My adoptive mom is also adopted, so she knew exactly how to have this conversation. I
Ten Things Adult Transracial Adoptees Want You to Know
This content was originally published by Creating a Family, the national infertility education and support nonprofit. 10 things Adult transracial adoptees want you to know Love your kids with your whole heart. Love may not be everything, but it is a great step in the right direction. Let your children know that you are always
Finding Love and Strength as a Former Foster Youth
Fractured Memories from Childhood When I was 7 years old, my brother and I were removed from my mother’s care and placed into a foster home. This foster home was supposed to be short term but we were there for about three and a half years. My memories of my birth mother, before being placed
Is it really my birthday today?
It’s after midnight, which means today is my 57th birthday. Growing up as an adoptee, I always celebrated my birthday without questioning it. But today, I thought… is today really my real birthday? If so, what time was I born? where was I born? who gave birth to me? who is my birth father? do
2019 SWS Welcome Home Program
A 7-day program for adoptees to experience their birth country of Korea Social Welfare Society in South Korea invites adoptees to apply for their annual Welcome Home program. The hope is to help adoptees better understand Korean culture, volunteer in their birthland, and build connections with volunteers in Korea. Details of the Program The program
Photo Album: Recognizing Grief and Loss in Adoption
I remember the day when I first met my son at the adoption agency in Seoul, South Korea. I woke up that morning feeling a range of emotions from complete anticipation, to sheer happiness, to utter anxiety. I waited nearly a year to meet my son and now I was just hours away. As I
Gaining Family and Insight through Post Adoption Reunion
Christina, adopted as an infant, spent her life wondering if her birth mother thought about her. She enjoyed a happy childhood with her adoptive parents, who adopted her in the late 60’s. Yet, throughout her life, she struggled with unanswered questions about her biological parents. Christina found answers to her questions when she began her
Transracial & Transcultural Adoption: Preservation, Policy, and a Personal Perspective
This article, written by Alexis Oberdorfer, MSW, Executive Director of CH/LSS, was originally published by National Council for Adoptable Children (NCFA) In 1948, white parents in Minnesota adopted a black child and were the first recorded transracial adoption in the United States. The following year, novelist and winner of the Pulitzer and Nobel prizes Pearl
Adoptee Starts Company to Inspire Others
Lee Arnold, an adult adoptee, is driven to motivate others to live their lives to their fullest. “I’ve had a lot of opportunities to meet really inspiring individuals who are doing great things. I wanted to create a platform to highlight them and teach through them,” he shares. That’s exactly what he is doing. This
