Speaking out

People? Identity

adoptee speaks out

Who am I? For a long time I couldn't answer that question.

It was like I was in a tug of war. My Adopted parents who wanted me to be exclusive to being their daughter. I know that I was in a nurturing home and well cared for.I was pulled to knowing my first family.

The fact that I was instructed to forget my first family.

I wanted to know who I looked like. I wanted to know the people who were my parents.

I fully embraced my new family, I suffered a loss of identity because of my birth family. I had medical concerns they needed to watch out for. I wondered about my ancestors? I didn't know about inherited genetic ties or my family backgrounds?

As an adoptee I felt split between my friends as they were with a biological family.

. I had a sense of loss as my peers were with their families and caused me to wonder about my other family.

This contributed to my feeling of anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.

In Kinship adoption I had switched families and my family tree was the same

This is why open communication is important.

When I filled in the pieces I knew both families were apart of who I am.

Identity They both fit. And are me