Searching for Biological Family
As children mature and grow-up into young adults, many are curious and feel a sense and need that they want to find out more about where they came from and their birth family. Their natural curiosity leads them to begin their search.
With an open adoption, this search for family is generally much easier as there has been at least some contact from birth throughout the last 18 years. If this communication has continued, there will be a mailing address, email address, social media contact, phone number or a way for the adoption agency to make contact.
Since the agreement for post-adoption contact is made with the birth parents and adoptive family, it is important that the adoptee begin with asking their parents to help initiate the contact. It is also very important that all involved are prepared to meet each other. Having had the help of a counselor who gave guidance and provided support, at the beginning of your relationships will make a big difference in the future meetings and your relationship.
It is important that all parties are as prepared as possible to meet each other. Each person will have an idea of the other person and how they want them to react at the first meeting. The reaction of meeting each other and idea of who the other person is may not be at all what happens. Seek the help of a counselor to prepare yourself and take your relationship one step at a time. Remember it takes years to build relationships along with great love and care. Those that love you will want to support you and see you happy. Don’t be afraid to ask for the time to be prepared and for help and guidance in your new relationships.