This year you followed along with me as I.....
- Gave birth to my second son.
- Finished another semester of school.
- Read at least 25 books, at least 17 of them adoption-related that I made notes about here.
- Embarked on my second year of reunion.
- Joined the Blogher Publishing Network.
- Had work accepted into 2 anthologies.
- Did 1 Adoptee Rights workshop and 1 speech at a film festival for University of Pittsburgh.
- Was quoted in several blogs, magazines, and Yahoo News.
- Worked in my home state with several friends and allies on Adoptee Rights legislation.
- Attended and posted live from my second Adoptee Rights demonstration.
- Joined the fabulous Adoptee Rights Coalition as a board member.
- Got my yellow belt in Tang Soo Do.
- Added over 50 blog followers (OK, I wasn't really keeping track of this one, it's a guess).
- Completed my second NaBloPoMo.
- Made 296 posts on this blog.
- Started Lost Daughters with several other fabulous adopted women which added 92 followers.
- Featured 11 artists impacted by adoption and their work.
- Posted work from at least 22 guest bloggers.
For the Next Year.....
I am torn over the concept of New Year's resolutions. On one hand, I find them really hard to keep--and positive change should be started and made whenever someone decides on it, no point in delaying. But the start of the new year is so tempting to start something new too. To make a goal and celebrate it the next New Year when it comes around.
Some goals....
- Do some podcasts/vlogs
- Post more picture-related entries and creative things.
- Read at least 10 adoption-related books.
Happy New Year to you and yours. Thanks for sticking with me and reading along this past year. Here's to blogging in the new year!
photo credit: supakitmod
My father was adopted, and found his birthmother 56 years later (with no help from the still-sealed records of the state of Nebraska). My sister-in-law was adopted, and has no desire to find her birth family. I have recently adopted internationally, and want to do a good job parenting a child with another mother, and from another culture. I like your blog because I learn a great deal from it about what questions my daughter may ask, what struggles she may have. I like the questions you raise, even when they make me uncomfortable. I like the open discussion. Please keep up what you are doing, and know there are many of us out here trying to do our best.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I have seen the incredible hatred and vitriol some adoptees throw about at people like me, and so I will be commenting only by name, not website. I am not yet ready to be assaulted for my choices. Thanks for being a sane voice in a difficult area.
Thanks for blogging. I enjoy reading things from your point of view.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to reading your blog posts throughout 2012. Happy New Year to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteAmanda!!! I love you, girl. I read your blog all the time and find your writing amazing, no matter the topic.
ReplyDeleteWhat would I like to see written more about on your blog (and other blogs)?
1. Father's rights and just exactly how they are stripped.
2. The laundering of children by the adoption industry. (Example: Overseas adoptions where Holt Korea and Holt International work together to launder children for export.)
3. How our government (All 50 states) are in the business of adoption and are in bed with it. The link between Medicaid and adoption agencies.
Those are just a few topics I don't see covered very much on the news, internet, etc.
Keep up the great work!!!!
-Mara
De-lurking reader who found your blog more recently via Margie. One of the things I love most about your perspective is that you frequenly address various aspects of adoption as feminist issues. I'd love to see more posts about that. Happy New Year, and thanks for continue to share your voice with all of us.
ReplyDeleteProviding that your two mothers agree, I would like you to write about your reunion relationship. In real life, I know about several very positive adoption reunion relationships. All are characterized by mutual respect, the absence of anger and bitterness, and an abundance of kindness. Conversely, the online reunion relationships I’ve read about seem to be quite the opposite. On your blog, I’ve never read where you’ve expressed anger toward your first mother or accused her of abandoning you to strangers or just giving you away as though you were unwanted and didn’t matter. This, to me, is one indication that perhaps your relationship will be a positive one as you seem to have compassion and understanding as opposed to bitterness and anger.
ReplyDeleteI just love your blog and want more of whatever it is you chose to write about. You have approached every subject with thoughtfulness and empathy, and have been respectful to all. Keep 'em coming.
ReplyDelete"Unfortunately, I have seen the incredible hatred and vitriol some adoptees throw about at people like me, and so I will be commenting only by name, not website. I am not yet ready to be assaulted for my choices. Thanks for being a sane voice in a difficult area."
ReplyDeletePot meet kettle, lol. This itself is a hateful statement, also please remember that your "choices" impacted real human beings, and knowing some folks who were adopted gives you absolutely no cred.
@ Gail:
On your blog, I’ve never read where you’ve expressed anger toward your first mother or accused her of abandoning you to strangers
Just curious, so when your mother leaves you with strangers and never comes back, what is it supposed to be called?
Thank you all for your comments. Re: adoptees and vitrol, I really don't know what to say when people say things like this to me any more. I don't think that what adoptees say should only be given credit when it comes in a certain package. People are rude to each other in any group--absolutely. However, a lot of what adult adoptees respond to are things that they believe are not ethical. How politely does someone express how something that's not ethical (like seeing racism on an APs blog, for example) in a way that's polite to everyone? There are many adoptive parent allies in the Adoptee Rights movement who have not had so much of a squabble with an adult adoptee. These adoptive parents are generally people who have sought to be complely supportive to the adoptee community, believe firmly in adoption ethics and making change, and are respectful of the stories of the adoptees in their lives. It is really possible to be an AP and get along with the adoptee community and I wish people would stop labeling adoptees as being the issue.
ReplyDeleteRe: reunion, I have not been rejected at reunion but I know people who have and I see how it hurts. I cannot imagine that pain or the pain of losing a child to adoption. Everyone copes and makes reason of their loss in different ways--the adoptee in closed adoption has an especially difficult task when it comes to this. I'll write about my reunion but I don't want anyone to think I have more right answers than anyone else does just because of the conclusions I've drawn. My mother's age at my birth and my conception circumstances have never allowed me for a minute to blame her so something I did instead for a long time was assume something was wrong with me, personally, that I was at fault. This isn't a line of thinking that is much healthier than any other adoptee. (((hugs)))
I'd love more book reviews!!! Especially since you'll be reading so many anyway...
ReplyDelete