Adoption is a special way to give a child a loving home when their birth parents can’t take care of them. If you’re thinking about adoption or have already adopted, you might wonder if open adoption or closed adoption is better.
In open adoption, birth parents, adoptive parents, and the child can stay in touch through things like letters, phone calls, or visits. Whereas in closed adoption, there’s no contact between the birth parents and the adoptive family.
Our book Adoption: The Journey tells the story of two families connected by a secret adoption. It shows how adoption changes lives, bringing love and sometimes pain but also hope. This story helps us see how staying connected, like in open adoption, can be better for everyone.
Let’s talk about why open adoption can make families stronger and children happier.
It Avoids Secrets
Our book shows how secrets can change a family’s life. Open adoption means there are no big surprises, such as having to tell a child they were adopted later on. While in a closed adoption, everything is kept private. Some parents wait until the child is older to tell them they were adopted. This can make the child feel shocked or even upset when they finally learn the truth.
However, open adoption avoids these surprises. From the start, your child knows they were adopted. They know their story and how they became part of your family. This helps them feel more secure and less confused. Hence, when there are no secrets, it’s easier for everyone to feel close and happy. Open adoption creates a more honest and open family life. This helps build trust and keeps the family strong.
The Child Can Know Where They Come From
In open adoption, the child can know their birth family. This means they can ask questions about their background and discover their culture, traditions, and where they come from. For example, a child might wonder, “Who do I look like?” or “Why do I love music so much?” These questions are normal as they grow up. With open adoption, they can get answers directly from their birth parents.
Knowing about their roots helps a child feel more confident. They won’t have to guess or wonder. It also helps them understand that they are part of something bigger. They belong to a history, and that makes them feel complete.
In closed adoption, these questions often stay unanswered like in our book. The child might not know much about their birth family. This can make them feel confused or lost. They might struggle to figure out who they are. Open adoption helps avoid this confusion and gives them a full story about their life.
It Helps Your Child Build Stronger Connections
Open adoption lets your child stay connected with their birth family. They might meet their birth parents, write letters, or talk on the phone. This connection shows your child that they are loved by more than one family.
You will always be their parent. That bond will never change. But knowing their birth family can give your child something special. It helps them understand that their birth parents loved them too. Giving them up for adoption wasn’t because they didn’t care. It was because they wanted what was best for the child. This connection also fills in pieces of their story. Your child will feel like they know where they came from. They’ll understand that both families worked together for their happiness.
In closed adoption, this connection doesn’t happen. The child might feel like part of their life is missing. They might think, “Why didn’t my birth parents stay in my life?” This can be confusing or even hurtful, leading to emotional instability. Open adoption keeps that door open and makes the child feel more secure.
It Builds Trust Between Families
Our book teaches about the importance of trust between families for making a child feel loved and supported. Open adoption is built on trust. As the birth parent, you trust the adoptive parents to respect your role. You know they will care for your child and treat them well. The adoptive parents, in turn, trust you to be part of the child’s story and to support them in their own way. This trust also helps the child. They can see that both families are working together. They learn that everyone loves them and wants them to be happy.
In closed adoption, there’s no chance to build this trust. The families don’t stay in contact. As a result, this can create distance, confusion, or even doubt about each other’s intentions. Open adoption keeps everyone connected and helps the child feel supported by both families.
It Teaches Important Lessons About Love
Love is the main idea of our book. It shows that adoption is a choice made with love. Open adoption helps kids see this. They learn that their birth parents chose adoption because they wanted what was best for them.
Open adoption also shows that love can grow and include many people. Both families can work together to care for the child, just like in the story from the book. Closed adoption keeps this love hidden, but open adoption shows that love can come from everywhere and make a child’s story even more special.
It also teaches you, as a parent, that love doesn’t run out. A family doesn’t have to look a certain way to be filled with love. Open adoption shows that families can work together for the good of the child.
Whereas in a closed adoption, it’s harder to see this love. The child might not understand why their birth parents are not in their life. Whereas, open adoption makes it clear that love is the reason for their adoption story. It shows that love can come from many places and many people.
Connecting Hearts and Families
Open adoption is better than closed adoption for lots of reasons, like we show in our book Adoption: The Journey – A Search for the Truth where closed adoption led to an emotional turmoil, making it difficult for everyone. Remember, as a parent, you want the best for your child. Open adoption gives your child more answers, more love, and more people to connect with. It also shows how both families work together to help the child feel loved and important. The book takes you on a roller coaster of emotions from finding out the truth to accepting it, making it a must read. If you love such books, pre order Adoption: The Journey – A Search for the Truth today and be a part of this amazing story!
