It takes time . . . to process the secrets, the decisions, the truths hidden for decades. Just give them time. Despite having complete confidence in the truth of these words, giving this advice to adoptees hoping to connect with …
Tag: adoption

Meeting the Bio Family: Chapter 10 – Another Big Bro and Cousins Galore
“So, when are you going back?” I lost count of how many people asked when we planned a return visit to Maine, where our immediate family had marveled in the beauty of an east coast autumn while spending time with …
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A Tribute to my “Real” Parents
My mom used to get miffed when people would say how wonderful she and dad were to adopt four children. “We weren’t wonderful,” she’d insist, no attempt to disguise the irritation in her voice. “We were selfish. We wanted a …

Meeting the Bio Family: Chapter 9.5 – Hovering in between
“Mrs. Steury, do you have a sister?” In typical kill-some-time-in-study-hall fashion, a high school student tossed me a random question. “No, I don’t,” came my fast reply. Breath. “Wait, wait. YES, I have a sister.” I now had the attention …
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Meeting the Bio Family: Chapter 9 — “Maine in October”
“Come to Maine next fall,” urged my “new” brother Alan as his visit to Indiana wound down, in September of 2017. He had traveled a thousand plus miles to meet us, the half-sister and family DNA had linked to his …
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Meeting the Bio Family: Chapter 8 — Dear Birth Mom . . .
Dear I. M. M., How do I begin a letter to you, my “first mother”? Hi, it’s me. The baby girl you gave birth to in 1963, now all grown up. Seems as good an intro as any other, don’t …
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Meeting the Bio Family: Chapter 6 — The reunion’s over . . . what now?
Even now months after our return from the 35th anniversary/family reunion/Hawaiian vacation, the memories of those first days and weeks back home are vivid in my mind. The trip home was uneventful. No mechanical issues or missed connections. The quiet …
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Meeting the Bio Family: Chapter 5 – Making up for lost time
If you happen to know me at all, you’re already aware that I’m a planner who prefers to have a plan in place all the time. I’m generally not a fan of “play it by ear” anything. Especially not something …
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Meeting the bio family: Chapter 4 — Finally a Sister
A sister obsession I knew from the moment I spotted them that they were sisters. Something about the way they interacted as they meandered around the old-fashioned country store. My “sister-radar” triggered into overdrive. I studied the combination of features …
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Meeting the Bio Family: Chapter 2 — Little Bro
On a Tuesday about three weeks before the big trip to Hawaii to meet my birthfather, his wife, and my sister and her husband, a half-bro from that side of the family, from the opposite side of the country asked, …