Mothers Stories Project: Mother Story

I wanted her. I wanted us to have a better life and one where I was there in her early years rather than always at work or school. I went to catholic charities for help. They tried to force me into adoption. I learned about open adoption from them. I decided against them and in the meantime my family found out and jumped to conclusions that I was giving my daughter up...they shut us out.  I was then put in touch with a couple in Ohio who were to help me get on my feet, give me a break and place to stay with my child while helping me find a better way to the goal I had in mind - which was school, a good job, a life for me and my daughter. What they did was keep me 900 miles from my family, isolated me from family and friends, and pressured me into relinquishing to them because i was "part of the family" and it would be completely open always. The day of signing with their private agency (Gentle Care) i asked why the open adoption was not listed in their papers. They said it was because that is the only kind of adoption they do and if i ever had any issue with the a-parents, i should contact them to mediate. Within two years my contact was cut to one letter per year. Upon contacting Gentle Care i learned that THEIR interpretaiton of OPEN was pictures and letters for one year. That was not my agreement and they knew that when i signed away my rights. The a-parents promised me they'd at least always let my daughter know she was adopted and when she decided she wanted to see me they'd let me know. In September 2008 my daughter and I came into contact on the web by a strange string of fate. She didn't know she was adopted and as soon as the a-mom found out she was in touch with me and thrilled to know she was adopted (because she was never happy with them...doesn't even call them mom/dad), the a-mom began lying.  SSuddenly i went from the awesomely successful, courageous wonderful woman to a prostitute and drug addict (not and never was true!). She has convinced my daughter she is mentally ill due to genetics and has her on anti-psychotics/anti-depressants.  It all seems to be a front to keep my daughter from me so on top of STEALING my daughter by PROMISING me a COMPLETELY open adoption, these people have also now sedated her under drugs and manipulation to keep her like some slave or piece of furniture - something to own and possess.

Hell will not end for us for many years to come. Thank you adoption machine. You found a new, equally wretched way of making money and tearing perfectly good families apart.