Talking to Your Adopted Child About Mother's Day

Do you ever think about your birthmother? It's completely normal - a lot of adopted children, just like you, do! It’s completely natural. After all, your birthmother is a part of you, and you are likely wanting to know more about this part of yourself. Think about everything you would like to know. What were you like after you were born? Why did she choose adoption? What type of personality traits do you both share? Do you have the same laugh?

Mother’s Day is a day of many emotions for adopted children whether there is contact with the birthmother or not. As an adopted child, you have many feelings on Mother's Day for your adoptive mom and your birth mom. You may feel sad at times, happy, or even feel guilty for thinking about your birthmother. You need to understand that thinking about your birthmother is not a bad thing and your adoptive mom and dad will not be mad at you for it!

You must try to remember:

• It’s alright to love two moms – your adoptive mother and your birthmother.

• It’s okay to feel many different emotions when you're thinking of your birthmother.

• It's absolutely fine to share these feelings with your adoptive mom and dad. They love you no matter what!

Honoring your birthmother and adoptive mother on Mother’s Day can be a wonderful tradition. It is an opportunity to make your adoptive mother, who loves you and cares for you on a daily basis, feel special and appreciated! Mother’s Day can also be an opportunity to think about the woman who gave you life. It's a day to celebrate any women in your life whom you feel a maternal bond with. Some children are close to their aunts or older cousins, for example.

Listed below are a few things you and your adoptive mother can do together on Mother's Day this year:

Ideas:

• Write a letter to your birthmother and describe how you feel when you think about her. Maybe  include questions you would like to ask her. If you are in contact with your birthmother, you may want to  mail this letter to her or wait until you see her next.
• Make a cake or other yummy dish the day before Mother’s Day to celebrate your birthmother on  Mother’s Day eve.
• Talk to your adoptive mother about your feelings.  Doing so will feel as if a weight has been lifted off your shoulders!
• Light a candle in honor of your birthmother.
• Plant a flower or a small tree as a symbol of your own roots (your birthmother) and growing branches (your adoptive family).

Please contact Radis Adoptions at 800-813-9345 for more information or further assistance!