A Domestic Reunion Story

This reunion story was published a few days ago.

“When I was in high school, twice I went out with a guy of a different race. And ended up pregnant. Back then this was not accepted and my mother was afraid of being judged. The day I found out I was pregnant, I was put on a bus and shipped to Dallas. As soon as I got there, I was taken into an office to sign adoption papers. Having my childs best interest at heart, I wouldn’t sign the papers until they assured me that he would be raised by caucasions. There I stayed in a home for unwed mothers until shortly after my son was born. I only got to hold him once and was so nervous then that I accidently dropped his bottle shattering it. The nurse came and got him and took him back to the nursery. My mom and step dad were always so mean. They came and got me from the home late in the evening when they knew I couldn’t get my son. Leaving him behind was like I left my heart there. Never saying goodbye to him broke my heart. On his sixteenth birthday, I called the unwed mothers home, telling them I thought I at least had the right to know if he got a good home. The man I spoke to put me on hold for a few minutes. Coming back on the line, he told me that I wasn’t going to believe what was happening. My son was on another line at that exact moment wanting to find me! I thought I was dreaming, and of course the tears flowed. Since my son was still a minor, About a week later, I got a package in the mail from the unwed mothers home. My sons adoptive family had been sending photos of him since he was three and they were never forwarded to me. I had the same address all those years, wondering if he were still alive and if he got a good home. I couldn’t do anything legally to see my since he was still a minor. I still had no idea where he was living. Shortly after his eighteenth birthday, his parents decided to let me see him. We drove to their home and finally I got to meet my son. That was one of the best days in my life, he has turned out to be the best son. He calls me mom and we are very close. He is a police officer now and I couldn’t be more proud of him:)

The Hardest Thing I Ever Had To Do
[Experience Project 4/29/11 by laj8]

It is extraordinary that her son was calling to search at the exact time that she was searching. But, this story leaves some questions about the behavior of the agency and adoptive parents.

• Why did no one at the unwed mother’s home speak to laj8 about the possibility of parenting her baby?
• Why did the agency not forward her child’s pictures to her over those 13 years?
• Why did the adoptive parents not allow her to meet her son prior to age 18, especially since he had actively searched since age 16?

REFORM Puzzle Piece