For Your Journal: Writing Prompt

Do you keep a journal – or wish you could get one started? Literary Mama wants to help.

Three times a month, I’ll post a writing prompt. Open a notebook and write for 10 minutes. Don’t worry about grammar or punctuation – just write. Then let the writing simmer and your mind wander for awhile.

And who knows? Maybe you’ll discover a character for your next short story or a theme for a narrative essay. Or maybe you’ll use the idea to create a special holiday card or photo album for someone in your family. However you decide to use your journal entry, I know you’ll enjoy re-reading it months–and years–down the road.
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A 1997 survey conducted by the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute revealed that nearly six of every 10 Americans have had a personal experience with adoption. That means they, a family member, or a close friend were adopted, adopted a child, or placed a child for adoption.

Yet, even with this majority, myths about adoption abound. Have you heard these comments?

~ Adopted children are troublemakers.
~ All adoptees have traumatic birth histories.
~ All adoptees search.
~ Birth parents can show up any time to claim their child.
~ Open adoptions cause problems for children.
~ It takes years to complete an adoption.
~ Adoption is outrageously expensive.

All are incorrect.

Suz Bednarz, a mother who surrendered her child to a closed adoption in 1986, writes this in response to the misconception that birth parents can show up any time to claim their child:

An adoptive parent expressing fear that a natural mother or father may return to take their child back is expressing fear while simultaneously showing their ignorance of the adoption relinquishment process, why it happens, and what it does to surrendering parents. The ignorance is likely rooted in a lack of understanding of what prompted their adopted child’s natural parent to surrender to adoption.

The adoptive parent may be correct in assuming that they natural mother or father may regret the adoption and want their child back but they are incorrect in assuming we live in a culture that would make it happen simply because the natural parent desires it.

Suz Bednarz speaks at adoption industry events on the need for adoption reform and family preservation. She can be reached at bluestokking(at)gmail(dot)com or via her adoption-themed blog.

Journal Entry: Respond to one of the statements listed above. Describe an experience you’ve had or one you’ve witnessed that disputes the statement.