Adopting.org Discussion Forums

I am writing here in hopes it will be seen by Alyson Leah or someone who knows her. My name is Patty O'Keefe and I am her birthmom. She will be 25 this October and I'm hoping, now that she is fully "grown up" that she may be willing to have some form of contact with me. I want to tell her I did the best I knew how at the time and considering the circumstances and I hope and pray that her life has been everything her parents and I hoped it would be. I don't know what it's like to be adopted, but have many friends who do...just enough to know that the desire to meet the birthparent is individual and cannot be predicted. Of course I want contact to assure myself that she is alive and well and happy, or even to hear the struggles she may be having because they are a part of life and who we become. I have no expectations but would like at least a letter telling me how she feels and if she will ever be ready to meet me. My own mother is 76 now and the highlight of her life would be the opportunity to meet Alyson (Ali). I would really like a face to face where I don't have social workers and well-meaning counselors and family members leaning over our shoulders telling us what we should do or see or feel or think.

One suggestion is to get the book "Adoption" by David Haugen and Matthew Box (greenhaven press) and read my story.

I hope you call me Ali, sister of Maya, daughter of Bob and Susan.
Here is is: (509 552-9147

I hope you find her! If you haven't registered on our sister site www.adoption.com, I highly recommend it. Not only do we have a more active forum base, but we have a reunion registry.

I would like to meet my biological father. According to my birth certificate his name is Jim Hoke Smith (Jimmy) I was told that he was born between December 8-12th of 1946 and his birth place was in Georgia. I was born at Lodi Memorial Hospital, Lodi, Ca.in June of 1970. My given birth name is Paul James Smith (I now go by Clark) My mother's maiden name was Amma Lee Gilliland (she also now goes by Clark) I am curious to know my birth father and any siblings I may have. I would like Jim to know that he has a grandaughter who is 16 years old and I would really like for him to meet my her. I also want him to meet my wife as well as myself. If anyone has any information please contact me via e-mail at the following address: biggman_1@yahoo.com I am also on Facebook as well as MySpace.

Thank You Very Much!

I was just wondering if someone could give me some advice on where to start. Let me tell you a little about my situation. I have guardianship of my grandson who is 22months I have had him since 3 months. His mother wants me to adopt him. My concern is the father, He is a registered sex offender has seen my grandson one time. At the court house when we had paternity done. He is at lease 3 months behind on support is not more. He will not willingly sign off my grandson, What can I do? What do you have to do to prove him unfit.

I am interested in hearing stories from others. I gave up a son 39 years ago. I married the birth father 4 years later. we have 3 adult children who we have not told about the adoption. Last march our son who we gave up for adoption started a search. I would like to hear from others in this same situation and how they told their children and how they reacted. I am scared of how our children may react but we must tell them.