Birth Mother Matters in Adoption 20: Adoption Reunification Part 1 of 2

Adoption Reunificaiton as An Adult Adoptee, the story, the understanding.  From beginning to end, an inside look into what it is really like.  Listen and learn from Kelly Rourke-Scarry as she shares her own story of reunification and correlates it to the Ruth A. Moran's 4 Stages of Emotion in Post Adoption Reunification.

Ruth A. Moran Identifiies 4 Stages of Emotion: An Adult Adoptee's Post Reunion Perspective

1. Paralysis:   Adoptees may be overwhelmed by the amount of information they have received or its content.  An adoptee may withdraw during this time and need their emotional space. 

2. Eruption ; Emotions will wash over the adoptee like the aftershock of an earthquake. The adoptee will not know when these emotions are coming or how strong they will be, they can be like a tidal wave or a ripple.  This stage is the period when the adoptee has had time to absorb the realities of her or his origins. 

3. Loss & Grief: The introduction of the birthmother into the adoptee's life may cause the adoptee to grieve over what life events that cannot be recaptured were lost with their original parents. The adoptee must gradually accept the truth behind the adoption plan.  

4. Empowerment:  During empowerment, the adoptee moves beyond acceptance to the growth of a new self-knowledge and self-awareness.  This is where further exploration and excitement may circumnavigate.