by Lauren Albright

Created on: November 01, 2008

The choice to give a child up for adoption is a very difficult and personal one. I was given up for adoption at birth and was placed into foster care immediately. At the age of four months, my adoption was finalized and I began life with my new family. While growing up I often wondered why I was given up for adoption, but never questioned the love of my new family. My adoptive mother, who I consider to be my real mother, always made sure to tell me how grateful she and my father were that my birth mother had given me up for adoption. Even though I had a wonderful family, I felt a longing to know where I came from.

At age 18 I began to search for my biological family and after only a few short months, which felt like eternity, I hit pay dirt. Not only did I find my birth mother and birth father, but one full sister, two full brothers and an extended family to boot. All my questions as to why I had been given up for adoption were answered. My birth mother had gotten pregnant as a teenager and gave birth to my older sister approximately a year and a half before I was born. When my biological mother had gotten pregnant with me she was still a teen and already had one child to care for. While neither of my birth parents wanted to give me up, my birth father had already joined the military and was unable to offer any assistance. Being Catholic, there was no other choice to make. They could not keep me, so I was given up for adoption.

It has been almost 7 years since I was reunited with my birth family. I am grateful to know them and finally have a feeling of peace with my past. Looking back over my life and experiences with my adoptive family, along with my more recent knowledge of my birth family, I must say that I am extremely grateful that my birth mother made that very courageous decision to give me up for adoption. At that point in time she was not in any position to provide for me, so she selflessly gave up her own flesh and blood so that I could have a better life.

As a parent you are required to make choices and decisions in the best interest of your child. You must put aside all selfish urges and make the right choice in each situation. I believe that the decision to give a child up for adoption is a tremendously brave and selfless one. In my case, that decision was in my best interest and therefore an extremely giving gift that my birth mother gave to me. The very best gift she could have ever possibly given.

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