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First, what IS open adoption?
Open adoption is unique to each family who enters into it. For some, OA may mean simply sharing identifying and medical information. For others, it may mean occasional letters, photos, emails.
Some in an OA relationship may have online contact (such as on Facebook), and other may have scheduled face-to-face contact. The most widely open adoptions merge the adoptive and birth families, making one big extended family.
Like any relationship, an open adoption can be fully tailored to the desires of the people in it. And, like any functional relationship, OA requires honesty, respect, and communication.
What ISn't open adoption?
- OA is not co-parenting.
- OA is not likely to work if any coercion took place
- OA is not likely to work if any party enters into it under false pretenses (e.g. not following through with promises made)
- OA need not be scary.
- OA is not confusing to the child.
- OA does not mean "no boundaries."
What would you add to this NOT list?
For more information:
Comments
This looks like the start of a good list. Thank you (as always) for your insights!
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