Jean Widner's adoptee story doesn't start dramatically. She was raised in a stable home with adoptive parents who offered her the basic support that children need to have. As she grew and learned more about her own story and the stories of others in the adoption community, she started to understand how complex adoption can truly be for everyone involved. Eventually, she decided to embark on a project that culminated in her book titled The Adoption Paradox. This episode explores some of the things she researched and discovered in the course of making her book. We talk a bit about adoption history, and Jean speaks to adoptees, first parents, and adoptive parents as well in this episode.