For women whose children have been adopted by others, Mother's Day can be a particularly poignant experience. But since 1993, the birth mothers of adopted children have had the opportunity to address their feelings and be honored for their sacrifices during an event known as "Birthmother's Day."

A May 10 article by Cleveland Plain Dealer writer Laura Johnston described the motivations behind these celebrations:

About 125,000 children are adopted each year in the United States, about 40 percent through public-welfare agencies, research shows. In the vast majority of adoptions today, the birth mother has some contact with the adoptive parents. For most of the 20th century, though, adoptions were anonymous. ...

"They brought a child into this world who they're not parenting," said Betsie Norris, executive director of Adoption Network Cleveland. "It's not something they've forgotten about. But that type of motherhood isn't acknowledged on Mother's Day. For birth mothers, it's very bittersweet."

"Although the rest of the world doesn't know, you know what the anniversary means to you and how important it is," one mother, a 31-year-old graduating from medical school, told the Plain Dealer. "To have everybody there to respect you as a mother, whether or not you're raising a child, it's incredibly powerful."

As is the case with many birth mothers, many adopted teens are also struggling with unresolved conflicts related to separation. Some therapists specialize in helping adopted teens with separation-related conflicts, as does Mount Bachelor Academy, a private therapeutic boarding school in central Oregon.

Labels: adoptive parents, adopted children, birth-mothers, separation

Posted By: Aspen/CRC