Patience experienced as many, a childhood of challenges. Her family was separated in dramatic fashion. At the age of 16, patience learned of a maternity home through her mother’s church affiliation. Her journey to motherhood involved traveling to the home for birth mothers with strangers. Her experience , as she said was in many ways better than her home. Patience felt lost, still in love, and knew the trauma of her childhood that she strived to overcome.

Denise’s journey started with her own adoption and her first glimpse into trauma. She grew up in the Mennonite community in Pennsylvania . Denise and Yvonne had some common memories to share .

Secrets were prevalent in the family. Denise talked about her experience as a Mennonite and the expectations and acceptance from her parents.

She spoke about looking for love and her identity.

Becoming a mom at an early age was traumatic and caused her to leap into independence. Denise’s journey was full of surprise connections. She talked about her heart’s desire.

Jeanne talked about her life growing up in Canada happily entertaining herself with her dolls. She talked about her anxiousness through her life facing fear and doubting herself.

Secrets and fearing sharing the truth were sometimes overwhelming.

Jeanne has broken through her fear to share her story for the first time.

DNA and Search Angels played a major role in Jeanne’s journey.

As all of us in the Adoption community know, “Reunions are Roller Coasters “.

Yvonne brings everyone up to date on her Sabbatical, Break, or self-care time.

Yvonne talks about the roller coaster ride of 7 years in Reunion with her son since 2018.

Transitions, Work, new DBT therapy journey, and all-around connection to the Adoption Community.

Stay tuned for Birth Moms Real Talk LIVE coming to Washington, DC in 2025.

Reunion is NOT easy, and we sometimes are tossed to the ground. Let us help each other.

We are In This Together towards Grace and Healing

Jenny grew up in a large family with over 80 cousins in Kentucky. Adoption and foster case touched her family through her father. She spoke about 2 grandfathers and 2 grandmothers on her father's side, as the adoption community experiences with adoptive and biological families.

As a teenage mother, Jenny was led to believe that open adoption was the BEST decision for her child's life. All Jenny ever wanted was THE absolute best for her baby. If that meant Jenny had to endure pain and sorrow, she believed it would be worth it.

Jenny was an athlete in college and experienced different racial cultures for the first time.

Jenny's story spoke of unique experiences upon leaving the hospital with her child and having the birthfather in her daughters life as well.

After 32 years, Jenny shares about the realities of open adoption and the many complexities that comes with. Blessings, pain and the realization that JENNY was always what was BEST for her daughter.

Abby is a transracial adoptee as a black adoptee adopted in 1971 by white parents. Her family was interested in adopting another Black child but that did not work out.

Her family were told by adoption agencies that a Black child would be the“Cheapest and Quickest “.

Abby started searching earnestly for her “truth” with her mother’s dementia,diagnosis.

Abby is also a Birth/First Mother and psychotherapist serving clients in the adoption constellation.

Abby spoke about the “ Real Truth” in Adoption dispels the Blank Slate ,Nurture over Nature that she heard in her family .

She speaks about her “ Dream Family” for her son placed in adoption.

The Truth Always Prevails and we need to Talk the Truth about the Trauma

Carman and Susan continue their story an adoption plan is made . Carman shared of her unique and sometimes funny journey. Carmen “ Knew” what she wanted for herself and her child. She talked about the “ Fear” from both the birth mother perspective and adoptive mother perspective .

Susan talked about being at the birth of Olivia , Carmen’s daughter . Susan has penned her memoir titles “ One Yes at A Time : How Open Adoption Transformed Our Family “.Birth/First Mothers look forward to meeting their child they have carried for nine months .

Carmen and Susan had parallel lives intersecting to form an open adoption. Carmen spoke of “ The Best in All of Us”. Carmen and Susan “ Adopted Each Other .

Communication is the Key to navigation of Emotions and Trauma of Adoption.

Carmen and Susan share their journey of life . In typical adoption stories, the birth/first mom and adoption mom may never have a conversation, yet Carmen and Susan had “ Real Talk” and conversations about “ their daughter.

These two mothers grew up in different situations and yet started the journey to “grow and learn from each other “.

Carmen was an independent college student providing for herself on the west coast . Susan had a Midwest life and journeying through school, work, and marriage . Their story begins when their parallel lives crossed.

They both came to ‘an adoption plan ‘ from two different perspectives.

An Honest , Open , Transparent , H. O. T. Conversation is what you will hear on this episode of Birth Moms Real Talk.

This story and journey continue with Katherine taking center stage , As you heard on Part 1 that Katherine was in the room listening to Janelle share. This itself is unique for a Birth/First Mom to talk openly and honestly about her placing Katherine in adoption in front of her. No secrets here .

Listen and learn what revelations came out that maybe both Katherine and Janelle had never heard before

We welcome Janelle, Executive Director of BraveLove Inc , a nonprofit that has served

the Birth Mom community since 2012 and her birth daughter Katherine who share their

story that evolved in many extricate paths to “Growth and Healing” .

You will hear the “ Real Talk “ behind the scenes with Janelle and Katherine who were

in the same room together for this episode. Listeners will learn the story of how “

History Repeats Itself