4 Ways to Communicate in an Open Adoption in Texas
Once you have decided to seek out an open adoption in Texas with your child and their adoptive family, a big question may come to mind: How can I communicate with my child in an open adoption?
This is a valid question to ask. In our age of technology, the ways that birth mothers, adoptees and adoptive parents can contact each other are constantly evolving. There are multiple options and ways to communicate in an open adoption specifically. So much so, it can be overwhelming to think about what way of communication is the best for you and your child.
If you need help with adoption now, you can call us at 945-444-0333, text us at 945-444-0333, or email us here.
This resource, along with others you’ll find at our Texas adoption center, Adoption Choices of Texas, can give you an idea of which option may be right for you.
- Emailing and Letters in an Open Adoption
We live in the age of technological advancements that occur almost every day. So, to write something as seemingly ancient as a letter or even an email to communicate with your child may seem unuseful. However, these two forms of communication still hold value to you as you try to have communication with your child.
Both letters and emails, but especially a letter, demonstrate that you have taken time to think about what to write and how to write it. Letters for centuries have been a way for people to communicate their deepest feelings, beliefs, and wishes to form a relationship with individuals. This could be the same for you and your child. There is something uniquely special about taking the time to write a letter or an email.
If this form of communication is the best option for you, you may still want a certain amount of privacy in your open adoption. Privacy can easily be kept with letters or emails. You can create a special PO Box address for your letters, or a unique email that is just for communication with your child and the adoptive family.
- Phone Calls and Open Adoption
One of the most common ways for birth mothers to communicate with not only their child, but also the adoptive parents, is by having routine phone calls. Hearing a person’s voice is irreplaceable when trying to form a connection with your child. Thus, setting up scheduled phone calls with your child may be the best option for you in your open adoption.
Phone calls allow you to hear the development of your child. As they grow up, you can hear how they grow, evolve, and mature. Phone calls also allow for a level of privacy in an open adoption, if that is important for you. While you are still able to speak with your child directly, identifying information, such as your address or what you look like, is still kept hidden.
- Social Media and Open Adoption
In our world, social media is everywhere! You cannot avoid it, even when you try to. People are connected now more than ever in history. This is also true for birth mothers, adoptive parents and adoptees.
Social media can be a good way to communicate with your child. This could be by you creating a private page that you, the adoptive parents, and your child have access to. Your page could be dedicated to sharing your life with your child, as well as the adoptive parents sharing your child’s life with you. Videos, photos, and messages can be shared easily for your convenience.
However, it is important to remember that social media is everywhere and always public. Be cautious about how much you share on your public pages about your open adoption, child, and the adoptive family. Remember to keep and honor the boundaries and privacy terms you have set with your child’s adoptive family. Social media can be a great thing, but it must be carefully guarded.
- In-Person Visit and Video Chatting with Open Adoption
In-person visits are becoming an increasingly common way for birth mothers to communicate and form a connection with their child. These visits, which are planned out ahead of time, can give you a unique opportunity to pass on your story, your child’s background, and history. It also gives you the chance to see him or her grow up. With each visit, no matter how many or how few, you can see how your child evolves and matures into the special individual they are meant to be.
In-person visits can face a problem, though. If there is a great amount of distance between you and your child, in-person visits may not be able to happen as often as you would like. Money, time, and travel can be a factor in stopping these visits. However, in the age of technology, there are solutions. Video chatting options, such as FaceTime, Skype, or ZOOM, can be a great alternative way to see your child and speak to them.
How many or how long these in-person visits or video chat calls depend on your comfort levels. It also depends on what you have discussed with your child’s adoptive parents during the adoption process. As long as everyone’s boundaries, wishes, and privacy levels are maintained, these visits can be an amazing experience for you and your child.
How will You Choose to Communicate in an Open Adoption?
Do not fret if you still are unsure what kind of communication you want with your child in an open adoption. It is very common for communication to evolve and expand over the years. What’s more, there are no right or wrong ways to communicate in an open adoption. Any one of the above mentioned methods are excellent options for you to create a connection with your child.
The most important thing to remember when communicating with your child and their adoptive family is to be honest and be yourself! It may seem like a daunting and scary idea to communicate with your child and the adoptive parents after placing your baby for adoption. But, remember that you are creating a special relationship with your child. It will be healing for you and beneficial to your child.
If you’re facing an unplanned pregnancy, considering adoption, and looking for a Texas adoption center, Adoption Choices of Texas is here to assist you every step of the way. As an expectant woman or birth parent, to learn more about adoption, contact Adoption Choices of Texas. You can call us at 945-444-0333, text us at 945-444-0333, or email us here. If you are hoping to adopt, please visit us here. We look forward to helping you through your adoption journey!
Meet the Author: Sarah Henderson can best be described as someone with an eclectic taste in all things related to literacy and writing. She can be found reading a wide array of subjects from true crime novels to the next young adult fantasy series. Because of her love of literature, it has been Sarah’s dream to become a novelist herself.
After graduating from college in 2019, Sarah has been spending her time planning, researching and writing for her first novel. When she isn’t reading or writing her novel, you can find Sarah out for her early morning run, hiking a three-plus mile hike or cooking her favorite vegan meal. She presently lives in Indianapolis, IN and is waiting for the next chapter of her life to begin!
