When searching for my biological family, people asked me, ‘what are you looking for? They wanted to understand what motivated me, but I wasn’t sure.  In the early days of searching, I had wanted to locate my biological family and know who they were. It would be a bonus if I could have a relationship ...

I had hoped to develop a lifelong relationship with my biological siblings, but it never came to fruition. The most complicated barrier is we don’t have any history. We were raised in different homes with different traditions, social norms, and family expectations. Our lives were vastly different. Sibling bonds are strengthened by sharing a lifetime ...

Going through life is a journey. We travel through the good times and the bad. There are times in our lives that pull us to the edge of reason, but then we have times of intense joy and happiness. Every single step lays down a memory. It imprints on who we are and what we ...

I have two fathers, but only one is my dad. No one could ever replace my dad. He was the father who raised me and stood by me until his dying day. He was the light of my life and my biggest supporter. Whatever I did, my father was there cheering me on. It was ...

Whenever I hear that someone has located their birth family, I get a little pang in my heart. They have a fresh, clean slate for a reunion which makes me a bit envious yet happy for them just the same. Moreover, I become their sideline cheerleader encouraging them to complete the reunion. ‘But yours turned ...

I am very lucky to have been adopted into a family that I can call my own. Like characters in a well-written book, my family was picture perfect. My childhood was carefree and happy. My family loved and doted on me. Our life as a family was predictable and full of adventure. We had extended ...

I do not consider myself to be an ‘adoptee’. I actually dislike the word. It has a negative connotation that borders on being offensive.  The word adoptee is a label meant to define a person who is adopted.  I was adopted and will forever be a person who is adopted. However, I am not an ...

Gracie was my first and only baby. I still remember the first time that I held her. I worried about not bonding, but the agency told me that many adoptive parents have that fear, and it usually goes well. It was a bit scary because I would be a single dad, with a busy work ...

Content Warning: contains references to assault, drug use, death of a parent, and child abuse. When we spotted her, she sat in the corner. A tiny child holding a doll, she picked its poofed hair with the ferocity of potential future trichotillomania. Her skin’s patches of white and darker tan contrasted with the doll’s color ...

Read Part 3 here. Hardwood floor. His mother awoke to the lovely song of the local bird population. She rolled over and looked at the alarm clock, which flashed 5:05 a.m. in red letters. She tried to put her fluffy blankets back over her head. She rolled a couple of times and eventually lost the ...