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

Ruby Lee grew up in a middle-class family in the Midwest. As a teenager, Ruby Lee started a bi-racial relationship with her boyfriend. Ruby knew that was unacceptable by the racist language used by her father in the home. She lost friends who didn’t support this relationship. The support she expected from the birth father upon learning of her pregnancy was not there. Ruby Lee kept believing, of course he will come around because ‘ he loved me’. She held onto hope. Her hope was failing as each month passed. The experience in the unwed mother’s home was still judgmental with birth moms discriminated against her as having a bi-racial child as they were judged also as unwed mothers.

Sharon came from a large family and was a steady support for her siblings. She was an honor society student. Sharon had a great adventure of participating in training in Washington, DC. after high school. Sharon realized her naivete when she became pregnant.

Sharon shares her journey of becoming pregnant and making an adoption plan on her own … and then sharing it with her family. “ It was Never Spoken of Again “.

Sharon went through life wearing “ The Mask that many Birth Moms Wore”.

Listen to how and what prompted her to “Remove her Mask”.

Rebekkah’s childhood was a lifestyle of many twists and turns, She experienced adoption first hand when she was adopted by her step- father.

She talked about how it felt to receive her second birth certificate, it was even a different color. In college, Rebekkah developed her independent spirit. Her move to Atlanta gave her the direction to find her true passion. 

Upon learning of her pregnancy, she realized her family would not be a support for her.

Her fortitude and perseverance gave her purpose.

As soon as Laura announced to her parents that she was pregnant, she was driven on a late-night ride to a military base where her father confronted the birth father. Laura’s childhood convinced her that her knight will come for her on a white horse to rescue her.

Laura held onto this ray of hope believing that her family will support her. In her mind, she said, of course, they will, they are her family. Laura felt like a ‘criminal’ when her family and friends found out about her unwed pregnancy. This was simply how it was in the 60s and 70s. if you were an unwed mother, that was the worst thing that you could ever do. Birth moms were hidden because of the secrets and shame in adoption. 

Nicole at an early age did not have a stable home. At the age of 10, her extended family became her support. Nicole worked through her anger as a “mean girl’ as she called herself. He life became a love-hate relationships with her mother. After high school, Nicole found her ‘voice” to overcome a chaotic life as she became a birth mother to her son at the age of 19. Nicole at an early age did not have a stable home. At the age of 10, her extended family became her support. Nicole worked through her anger as a “mean girl’ as she called herself. Her life became a love-hate relationships with her mother. After high school, Nicole found her ‘voice” to overcome a chaotic life as she became a birth mother to her son at the age of 19.