Open Adoption Project

This is our final episode for Season 1. We will be back soon, with new episodes beginning on November 8, 2021. In this episode we wrap up sharing our family’s adoption story. Navigating adoption during a pandemic was a bit different. We talk about how we built a relationship with our fourth child’s birth family and what his pandemic placement looked like. We’re looking forward to returning in Season 2 with more interviews and stories from all members of the adoption triad. In the meantime we’ll be posting on Instagram @openadoptionproject. Thanks for listening!

This week we hear Jori’s story as both an adoptee and a birth mother. Jori was adopted from foster care at six months old by a biracial family. She talks about holding space for every part of adoption, including the traumatic parts. She shares thoughts about how placing her oldest daughter for adoption helped her better connect with her own birth mom, and what we as an adoption community can do to better support adoptees and birth parents. This is a beautiful interview representing all three perspectives of the adoption triad, with Jori teaching us as both an adoptee and birth mom and Lanette, an adoptive mom, interviewing. You won’t want to miss this episode.

Follow Jori on Instagram @thestoryofjori

Read part of the article Jori mentions in this episode: https://adoption.com/mothers-life-part-iii/

In this beautiful interview we hear about one family’s story involving many aspects of adoption that listeners often ask about--special needs adoption, foster-to-adopt, international adoption, and disrupted placements. In this episode, Burgandy, an adoptive mom, shares her family’s story of adopting internationally and through the foster system. She discusses her experiences adopting special needs children. She talks about the different levels of openness in her three sons’ adoptions, including her family’s fulfilling open adoption relationship with one of her son’s (first) parents in India.

In this episode we hear from Kim Perry, who has been an adoption professional since 2008. She shares thoughts about how the adoption triad can better support adoptees. She also discusses the pros and cons of private adoption, agency adoption and foster care. In addition, she shares thoughts on actionable ways adoptive parents should hold adoption professionals accountable and set a higher standard for ethical behavior.

Follow Kim @its.kimperry

Alexa recently placed her daughter for adoption. In this episode she shares her story with so much tenderness, detailing her experiences and the emotional struggles she’s faced. She also talks about what her open adoption looks like. This reflection on a very recent placement illustrates some of the challenges and feelings birth mothers go through during those first weeks after placing their babies for adoption.

Follow Alexa on instagram @my_story6.19.21

We return to sharing more about our family’s adoption experiences in this episode, talking about juggling multiple birth family relationships and the nuances of that. We also share our top five tips to create positive and meaningful relationships with members of the adoption triad.

In this heartfelt episode Tamra, a birth mom, shares her story of placement and reunification with her son. She shares specific and genuine advice for those considering adoption and talks about her journey through complicated emotions and challenges that are prevalent in the adoption world.

Follow Tamra on Instagram @ramblintam

Read her article, "When I Placed My Son for Adoption, I Had to KNOW I was Making the Right Choice"

Also check out her "Search and Reunion Guide"

In this special mini episode of The Open Adoption Project, our kids interview some of their adoptee friends about their thoughts and experiences with adoption so far. Rocklyn, Kyson, Zack, Luke and Jace share their stories as adoptees.

In this episode DaKota, an adult adoptee, shares his experiences growing up with a very open adoption. He also talks about how the openness of his adoption contrasted with his siblings who were adopted and had different levels of openness. He discusses the shift of the responsibility of maintaining open adoption relationships from his parents to him as he moved into adulthood. DaKota is the founder and President of the Destiny Foundation. Find DaKota on Instagram: @dakota.aitken

What’s in a name? In this episode we talk about meeting expectant parents over an online video call and how that experience differed from face-to-face meetings. We also talk about different thoughts on naming adopted children. We conclude with a brief interview with our son, a five-year-old adoptee.