“There are those who viewed my decision to be a birth mother as selfish, but in fact, this journey has been the true definition of selflessness. No longer do I walk this path in shame or embarrassment. For being a...
Susan KuligowskiUniting Our Family: Transitioning Out of Quarantine
March 2020 changed everything for everyone around the world. At first, we heard news here and there—shaky headlines about a vicious virus that was steadily sweeping its way across the world. Then the questions...
International Adoption: Our Experience in Our Adoptee’s Country
Our son, now home for almost 5 years, was born in a small Eastern European country called Bulgaria. At the beginning of our process, when our social worker presented Bulgaria as a possible country that met a lot of our...
Kristina FrazierBirth Mothers Amplified Episode 19: Growth After Placement
Whether we like it or not, we all experience growth along our journeys. Growth can come in many forms and at many different points in our lives. In the adoption community, all members of the adoption triad experience...
Hailey AshcraftHistorical Figures Who Were Adopted
Adoption is often looked upon as a barrier to happiness, success, and fulfillment, but in fact, many well-known historical figures have been touched by adoption. Despite the stereotypes and myths, these people have gone...
Birth Mothers Amplified Episode 17: The Paradigm Shift of Adoption
If you haven’t listened to Birth Mothers Amplified yet, here’s how they describe themselves (because they can explain this far better than I can): “Birth Mothers Amplified is a podcast that is co-hosted by Muthoni and...
Christina GochnauerBirth Mothers Amplified Episode 16: 9 Years of Semi-Open Adoption
Macy’s Story Episode 16 of Birth Mothers Amplified features Macy. Macy is a birth mother who placed her baby for adoption nine years ago. She has both bachelor’s and master’s degrees and is now a Speech Therapist...
Jenn Martin-WrightHow My Best Friend Supported My Adoption Journey
When I knew that I was ready to take the first steps in my adoption journey, I could feel the previous chapter of my life close and a brand new one begin. And even though I was confident in my decision, it’s still a big...
One Thing I Would Change About My Adoption Journey
The movie “Thirteen Going on Thirty” goes something like this: a thirteen-year-old girl makes a wish to be thirty and finds herself struggling with the outcome when it becomes a reality. As an adult, she is having a...
Cindy HillBirth Mothers Amplified Episode 14: A Holiday Adoption Panel
This episode of Birth Mothers Amplified was about all the feelings and traditions around holidays, and special occasions relating to the birth mother’s adopted child (for instance, birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving...