Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Adoption Language

I think people do get a little picky with some adoption language but I think we can all agree there are just some terms that are unexceptable...such as: "Gave up", "illigitamate", "unwanted" etc.
I liked this site because it was very clear about all these terms as well as other scams and practices that should not be allowed.

Four Adoption Terms Defined

Natural child: any child who is not artificial.
Real parent: any parent who is not imaginary.
Your own child: any child who is not someone else's child.
Adopted child: a natural child, with a real parent, who is all my own

7 comments:

Michelle said...

Thanks for the link! Lately I have become more aware and concerned about how the people around me talk about adoption and the phrases (words) they choose to use. I don't know if this is because Angelica is getting older or because we are in the process of adopting again; therefore it is brought up more often...or perhaps both. It's very annoying and I am trying hard not to be "stuffy" about adoption language but it is difficult since I am surrounded by people who do not have a clue. I want those around me to know right from wrong but I don't want them to be worried or stutter through adoption talk for fear they will say the wrong thing and offend me or more importantly my daughter. It's a tough one and I am trying to find that fine line with my friends and family. BTW, I love your blog and enjoy reading it.

Anonymous said...

I love that many birth"mothers" use the term "natural mother." What was so natural about giving the baby up or letting other people coerce the baby away from you? Pure garbage. If you love your child, you fight tooth and nail to stay with that child. If you don't, there is nothing natural about you.

petunia said...

It is natural to love a child (for nice people anyway). I would fight tooth and nail now to keep my child...that is just natural when you love someone this much. We all must learn to live with our desicions.

Unknown said...

Your own child: any child who is not someone else's child.


That doesn't really work in adoption, though.

Moonbeam is my own child, because she is my child. But she has another mom--her adoptive mom.

petunia said...

no - our own child - our child that is ours - we are her parents.

Anonymous said...

Ok, whatever. That's not what it says.

Moonbeam has two moms, fully two moms.

So do you.

So does any adopted person.

So I just don't think that one definition of "own child" works.

petunia said...

I have one mother and one biomom....