Adopted
Although being adopted isn't necessarily commonplace, about 1.5 million children living in America are adoptees of some sort (2 percent of all children) and it's estimated there are about 10 million adult adoptees. As the adoption community continues to grow in size as well as national exposure, topics, such as teen pregnancy and abortion, are breaking through the social boundaries that once contained them.
Being adopted is a something that everyone experiences differently. Children placed as infants are likely to have never known their birth mother while children in the foster system are more likely to have known their parents, siblings and relatives. The relationship an adopted child has with his or her adoptive identity is important and contributes greatly to the way they mature into one of the 10 million adult adoptees out there.
There are few generalizations out there about the adoption experience. However, it was reported in the chart book Adoption USA in 2007 that adoptees are more likely than their peers to have depression, anxiety, hyperactivity or attention disorders. Growing up with the feeling of being different will affect anyone and as an adoptee matures, he or she may want to know more about his or her birth parents and pursue a first meeting or reunion.
The question of who an adoptee's birth parents are can be a sensitive and sometimes overwhelming topic for all triad members, especially if the birth parents had their rights involuntarily terminated or voluntarily forfeited their parental rights during a difficult time in their lives. That being said, it's normal for adoptees to become curious about their pre-adoptive life and it's not a sign of discontent toward the life their adoptive family gave them. Thousands of adoptees register with search registries every year, according to Adoptee Search Center & Registry statistics, and most of them are looking to answer questions that maybe even they didn't know they wanted to ask.
Being an adoptee from another country or a Native American tribe can bring additional stress to a family dynamic. Even in a post-racial society, people may think this is a strange family dynamic that can lead to complicated identity issues that cut deeper than the typical adoptee curiosities. It's important to have an outlet or support group that allows international or transracial and trans-ethnic families to connect to an adoptee's origins.
Category: Adoptees
See Also: adopted child, adopted daughter, adopted son
Articles About "Adopted"
"Adopted" in the News
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Guatemala: US Refuses to Return Adopted Girl Guatemala: US government says it won't return adopted girl allegedly snatched from mother
Katherine Heigl names adopted baby Adalaide Katherine Heigl and husband Josh Kelley have been very quiet about their recently adopted daughter. But now, a rep tells Us Weekly what they've named their bundle of joy: Adalaide Marie Hope Kelley.
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US will not return illegally adopted Guatemalan girl The United States Tuesday refused to return to Guatemala a girl illegally adopted by a US couple in 2006 because at the time the South American nation had not yet signed onto an international treaty.
Guatemala: US government says it won't return adopted girl allegedly snatched from mother GUATEMALA CITY (AP)
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"Adopted" in the Adoption Blogs
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Wow, wow, Mother's Day! May 13, 2012, 6:09 pm When lunch was ready, I was struggling to get my FKs to the table. I had prepared them for the moment, but they didn't want anything to do with my family on this day and were refusing. I was trying to decide whether to allow them to sit it out, when the doorbell rang.
Their sister was on the front...
County questionMay 13, 2012, 6:11 pm Hi,
I see that you said that you live in San Bernardino county, but adopted from Los Angeles county. I didn't know you could do that. Can we do that? I hear that Riverside county is super understaffed! I'm also wondering if it will be weird to adopt a kid from where the birth parents live....
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Issues with biological families, any advise would help! May 12, 2012, 5:50 pm I turned 30 last month and it seems like all of my big birthdays bring up some sort of feelings in regards to my adoption. I am struggling with some choices and would like some advise. I must fill in the gaps and explain everything I can so everyone can understand my tale.
Bio-Mother Story...
I'm not a mother?May 13, 2012, 4:57 pm Ok, this is my first time posting and unfourtnatly its out of anger:( I'm a 29 year single woman whose adopted two little boys from foster care whom I've raised since birth who are now almost 2&3, my boys are my life and could not love them anymore and anyone whose knows me knows this. Well...
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Stories About "Adopted"
"Adopted" on Adoption.com
Web Results for "Adopted"
