Featured Writer: Adoption Voices Magazine

I had the honor of being the featured writer this week at Adoption Voices Magazine. Never heard of it? Never been there to visit? What a treat you are missing! Great voices from all sides of the triad to view, read, learn from and inspire!

This particular post is about the negativity that I see in the apoption circles online. I will leve you with the link to the page, not just the post, because there are many interesting articles on the site. Also, if you look to the right side you will see that Jane poses a great follow up question to my post. Take some time and enjoy the diversity that is Adoption Voices Magazine!

Adoption Shame

Photo courtesy of Adoption Voices Magazine.

As many of you know by now, I am a contributor at Adoption Voices Magazine. This magazine is an amazing array of voices, all whom have lived with adoption in their lives. This time around, you will find an article from an adoptive father, an article about Dave Thomas, a recap of the book Primal Wound, an eye opening article from Claudia Corrigan D'Arcy titled 30 Things I Wish I Knew Before Adoption Entered My Life .... and many more interesting points of view.


One of the articles is an offering I wrote for Jane starting to cover the shame in adoption. WHAT? Shame you say? Yes, there are many who do feel shame when it comes to adoption. This is just the first article in this category for me as I have a couple more in the works for AVM to publish at a later date. 


It is not an easy topic to discuss because I do not think anyone is comfortable talking about shame in their lives. But in order to shed light on all aspects of a my journey in adoption I feel it needs to be talked about. Feel free to read the article by clicking the link below, then come back to share your thoughts.

Adoption Shame ~ Adoption Voices Magazine

Well hello! Been a long time ...

Silly day spent with my niece, what a great afternoon!

Yes, it is me. I am back, from a long overdue break from everything normal in my life. Much needed family time took over the schedules, the writing, the volunteering. It all became too much and my husband and I needed to step back, take a deep breath and enjoy what we have as a family. The life that we created needed to be lived, to be enjoyed. So I guess I am asking that you forgive the absence and know that I have a LOT of things to discuss in the weeks to come.

My beloved hometown, St. Louis Missouri

Before I get to that, I neglected to post the most recent article that was published in Adoption Voices Magazine. My friend Jane chose this piece and I think there is some pondering that could happen as a result of reading it. The topic has to do with a question I was asked, and the hospital stay for a birth mother.


Feel free to comment, I know that the last goodbye can be so difficult for mothers.


Facing the Fear: The Long Goodbye at the Hospital Courtesy of Adoption Voices Magazine.

Relinquishing Rights ~ My first article for Adoption Voices Magazine

Good Monday Morning to ya! Here's to another week, a fresh start, a way that we can bring newness to our world and leave the previous week behind us. I will do just that! And there is no better way for me to start my week than to be introduced on a new stage. The internet magazine stage to be precise. 

Actually published last night, I found in my box this morning that Adoption Voices Magazine went with my article about relinquishing rights for the first of my contributions. I am thrilled because I like the piece that I wrote, it is a good look at what it really meant to ME when I signed my parental rights away. You can venture on over and read it here: 
Relinquishing Rights: It's Just a Paper, Right?


Now, allow me to expand on that thought and some of the points that I brought up in the article. Below you will find links to two different posts from this blog that expand on my thoughts and feelings on these topics. I find that if you can explain further and deeper this side of adoption, the birth family side, the more we can all understand where the other is coming from. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard from adoptive parents ... "Well I never thought about that side of it.."  or "It is so interesting to hear your thoughts and how I would have never taken into consideration that feeling." It is good to see others points of view, no matter the topic. 


But in adoption, it is knowledge that will help all sides of the triad understand and discover more about themselves.

The Instant Birth Mother

Relinquishing Rights

Relinquishing Rights: Guest Column for Open Adoption Examiner

Introducing ... Adoption Voices Magazine

Good Monday to you all! I received some great news over the weekend that I have been anxious to share with everyone I know.


Several months back I was asked if I would like to contribute to a new adoption related magazine that would bring many different voices together to shed light on all the issues that surround adoption. I accepted the invitation and embarked on a friendship that I have grown to cherish. Jane Ballback is an adoptive parent who has ties all over the world of adoption. She found me because I included her daughter's article on my blog, spotlighting what an amazing outlook on life Stacee has. I was thrilled to be included on the list of authors that Jane was compiling for her new endevour.

The time has come, the magazine is launched and I am happy to introduce you to Adoption Voices Magazine! Keep it on your radar, the contributors and writers that have come together for this exciting advancement in understanding all facets of adoption will be updated weekly with new articles and views. I hope you will check it out, and if you do I would love to know what you think about it.

I could have never known that sharing one little article could change so much for me. Amazing the people that have come into my life, and I am thankful for each and every one of them!