About Me

Welcome to my blog!  My name is Amanda, I am a 26-year-old mother of two.  I am a former Social Services professional who once served the aging population in Long Term Care and short term rehabilitation.  I am currently staying home with my children while continuing my education as a Social Work major.  I have been married for five-and-a-half years to my husband, Matt, who is a professional Firefighter/Paramedic/Fire Officer.

I was born in 1985, surrendered to adoption at three days of age, and kept in foster care managed by my private adoption agency for 4.5 months before I was placed with my adoptive parents.  My adoption was finalized in 1986 and handled by the largest adoption agency in the United States.  I reunited with my original mother, brothers, and extended maternal and paternal original families in January of 2009.

I am a breast feeding, baby-wearing, mama.  I am an unapologetic feminist and humanist.  I am a Christian Universalist, Adoption Reform advocate, and Adoptee Rights activist.  I believe in and advocate for the equality and acceptance of all people regardless of age, race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, or family status.  I am a nature photographer, a dedicated Etsy shopper, a lover of chocolate covered potato chips, and a truly horrible cook.  I love to read and write.  I have been doing yoga for years and have taken up mixed martial arts.  I am an Orange Belt in Tang Soo Do.

My writing and advocacy has been included and quoted in publications both nationally and internationally.  I will be appearing in two different adoption anthologies and was a featured mom activist on Mother's Day on Yahoo! News.  I am a board member of the Adoptee Rights Coalition and the founder of Pennsylvania Adoptee Rights.  I was listed in the top 20 of the top 100 blogs on the web by Adoptive Families Circle / Adoptive Families Magazine.

Why the Blog?
I began this blog as a way to try to find my original family.  When I reunited, I had gathered so much support, I did not want to simply close everything down.  So much was left to be said.  So I've removed many of the "I'm searching" posts (to respect my original family's privacy) and have dedicated this blog to the goal of adding just one more adult adoptee voice out there.  Adoption and family situations that mimic adoption in many ways, are relevant topics in our society, politics, and day-to-day lives.  It's important for people to consider the perspectives of people who identify as being adopted, the only people who can tell others what being adopted is like, when it comes to these issues.  I hope my blog accomplishes this purpose for those who are reading.

Why "Declassified Adoptee?"
When someone is adopted, their original information and birth certificate become sealed by the state and amended documentation is issued with pieces of their history pre-adoption missing or often completely changed.  It as if the first chapter of our lives is top secret...or classified.  In a closed adoption, this becomes further complicated because the only thing their parents or the adoptee is able to know about themselves is what is called the "agency narrative"--what the agency has decided is true, pertinent, and acceptable to pass along.  Imagine a game of telephone where someones talking about you but you're the last to know what everyone down the line has said.  Imagine that's the only information about your origins that you're able to have.  When I unsealed my records and was able to talk to original family members, I understood my own narrative in a new light.  I was able to make my own informed opinion about my adoption.  I have always thought that the government who seals our records must think our origins are too shameful to be seen.  But mine have been unsealed and I am not ashamed.  I am declassified.

Welcome and Follow Along
I do write about adoption an awful lot but I cover other interests and passions of mine here too.  Whether it be about politics, personal stories and memories, crafting and photography, feminism, parenting, recipes to dishes I've made and not completely ruined, or any other topic I write about here, I hope you find something that speaks to you.


Questions?  Comments?  Your Thoughts?
Please feel free to email me.  You can also leave a general comment about the blog in the comments section below.  As per my comment policy, I may leave or remove comments at my discretion.

My Email is:
declassifiedadoptee [at] gmail [dot] com

I welcome your comments and discourse; even if you disagree.  It may take me some time to respond; I am not ignoring you. Between blogging, kids, school, and other activities, I will sheepishly admit my inbox gets neglected. Inquiries about guest blogs and tweets that have ignored my editorial guidelines above may not receive a response at all.


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