In this episode of Family Twist, Corey and Kendall sit down with Mary, adoptive mom to previous guest Chris Martin. If you haven’t already, we recommend listening to Chris’ two episodes first — his story as an adoptee lays the groundwork for the conversation you’re about to hear with his mom.

Mary opens up about the unexpected beginnings of Chris’ adoption and how what started as a plan for a closed adoption blossomed into a fully open one. She shares candidly about the joys, challenges, and deep connections that grew as two families came together out of love for one child.

An Adoptive Parent’s Perspective on Open Adoption

Together, Corey, Kendall, and Mary explore:

• The surprising way Mary and her husband learned they’d become parents
• How their adoption plan evolved into an open adoption — and why that mattered for Chris
• The importance of seeing adoption through both parent and child perspectives
• The blend of nature and nurture in Chris’ growth and personality
• The role of extended families, birth parents’ spouses, and even grandparents in sustaining openness
• Why Mary encourages others not to fear open adoption, but to center every decision on what’s best for the child

Mary’s voice adds a rich and heartfelt counterpoint to Chris’ earlier episodes, giving listeners a rare chance to hear both sides of an adoption story in depth.