Comments on: Excuse Me While I Rant a Bit About the Media and Adoption

By: cjpatton

cjpatton — Fri, 04 May 2012 00:48:36 +0000

Wow, if I watched more TV, clearly I’d have plenty of material for another rant! Lol. Thanks for giving me a few more examples. Maybe I’ll start a list….

By: cjpatton

cjpatton — Fri, 04 May 2012 00:45:45 +0000

Trish, I had no idea you were adopted. Wow. I love it when I learn unexpected things about friends via my blog! I’m also glad that you’ve had the chance to meet some of your biological relatives and have created your own special version of a blended family. I have also known adoptees who struggle(d) with their identity, and I think that’s so sad. I wanted things to be different for my daughter, and so far I’ve accomplished that. For her, adoption means that she has more family to love–and who love her. I tell her she was chosen, but I love your statement that adoption means “much loved.”

I don’t think of my daughter with the qualifier either. I would love it if that was what the media was saying, but I suspect it’s not.

By: cjpatton

cjpatton — Fri, 04 May 2012 00:29:48 +0000

Well, I know I certainly had a great deal of time to think about being a parent before I actually was one. I’m sure the length (and expense) of the process weeds a fair number of people out. And who’s to say whether those people are more or less qualified than ones who accidently get pregnant? Impossible to know.

As for the media, I never noticed anything either–until I had adopted a child. Now I can’t help but notice that the children of celebrities are usually identified with the qualifier if they are adopted. And I always think, who cares? Because anyone who is interested already knows Sandra Bullock’s adoption story, so why constantly point out that Louis is adopted? Why?

By: Excuse Me While I Rant A Bit About The Media And Adoption … | Child Adoption Process

Thu, 03 May 2012 18:36:28 +0000

[...] it helps de-stigmatize the adoption process. But as a … … Read the original here: Excuse Me While I Rant A Bit About The Media And Adoption … ← Courage in the Adoption Waiting Game | Both Ends [...]

By: Julie Tinney

Julie Tinney — Thu, 03 May 2012 17:47:43 +0000

Oh I so agree. Not only just pointed out the difference, but examples of how biological parents are superior are everywhere in the media. On Desperate Housewives, Julie finally ‘sees the light’ and decides she can’t give up her baby. Then there’s Once Upon a Time, where the adopted mother is literally, a witch! But the mother who gave up her son comes back to save the day. Rant on, sister.

By: Trisha Brown

Trisha Brown — Thu, 03 May 2012 17:29:28 +0000

I have the same feelings as an adoptee. I don’t think of myself with the qualifier of “adopted,” I am simply me. Invariably, however, when I share that I am adopted, people always ask if I know my “real” parents. Yes, I do. I call them Mom and Dad and they raised me. I have also met some of my biological relatives too, and all of us together have created a family that is quite real, regardless of who shares genetic material. I know some adoptees struggle with their identity and have issues with the idea, but for me “adopted” means “much loved.” Perhaps that is what the media really is saying. “Sandra Bullock and her much loved son.”

By: Jenn

Jenn — Thu, 03 May 2012 16:05:52 +0000

actually, I wonder if adoptive parents are actually better in some ways. Certainly to go through the process you have to have done some serious thinking about your desire to have and raise children… sometimes biology is an accident

I have to say I’ve never noticed that the media points out such things, but if someone didn’t post an article on Facebook, or NPR didn’t cover it on Morning Edition, I probably don’t know about it! Great post! Keep on ranting!! these are important issues.