What is a Texas Open Adoption and Why is it the Preferred Adoption Type?
Over the last few decades, there has been a lot of positive changes in not only how adoptions are perceived by the public, but also in how birth mothers can go about taking control of their Texas adoption process. In fact, in recent years, open adoptions have become more and more popular for birth mothers and adoptive parents alike. This type of adoption seems to be a great fit for everyone involved!
You may be thinking, what is an open adoption and why is it the preferred adoption type?
This is an understandable question. As after doing a quick internet search for information about open adoptions, the amount of information can be overwhelming, and not always accurate. This resource, along with others at Adoption Choices of Texas, will give you a better idea of what an open adoption is and why it could be a good choice for you and your baby.
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.
What is an Open Adoption?
Just like no two adoptions are alike, no two open adoptions are alike. There is no way to have a definite definition of what an open adoption is. It can be interpreted in many different ways depending on a birth mother’s life circumstances, boundaries, and needs. However, the most basic way to define an open is quite simple. Birth mothers and adoptive parents share identifying information. These types of identifying information can include:
- First and last names
- Phone numbers
- Email address
- Home addresses
By sharing this type of information, birth mothers and adoptive parents will be able to have contact during and after an adoption is finalized. This type of adoption is a great option for birth mothers who still want to have some kind of relationship with their child after an adoption is finalized.
How Does Open Adoption Work?
Similar to the definition of an open adoption, how this type of adoption works can be up to interpretation. It all depends on the relationships between each party involved and what each party wants out of the adoption. In order for an open adoption to work, both the birth mother and adoptive parents must establish healthy boundaries and discuss how life will look after the adoption has been finalized.
For birth mothers who have chosen to place their child for adoption, like you, this can be deciding to what extent the contact with your child will be, the boundaries you can’t cross, and what you want to achieve with this relationship with your child. Once both you and the adoptive family come to an agreement of what kind of contact you want, a finite plan following the birth and placement can occur.
What are Recommended Ways to Communicate in an Open Adoption?
The type of contact that can happen in an open adoption has grown significantly with the growth of technology and social media. But, your adoption specialist with Adoption Choices of Texas may recommend ways of communication such as:
- Phone calls
- Text messaging
- Emailing
- Video Chat (i.e. FaceTime, Skype, ZOOM, etc)
- In-person scheduled visits
- Photo sharing
- Letters
Why Open Adoption is the Preferred Adoption Choice
One of the most important things to remember about an open adoption is that an open adoption is not co-parenting. This is a common misconception that the media has spread about open adoption. In order for an open adoption to be a success for every party involved, this is the first and most important thing to know!
The second thing to consider about why an open adoption works is that, before an adoption is finalized, both the birth mother and adoptive parents are honest about their needs, wishes, and boundaries. You may be nervous about this, and that is understandable! However, it is vital that you are firm and steadfast in what you want out of this open adoption. This way, when problems or conflicts may arise in the future, both you and your child’s adoptive parents can fall back on your original agreement. Do not forget, your adoption team at Adoption Choices of Texas will be there to help you during this challenging process!
Open Adoption can Work for You!
If you are feeling unsure if an open adoption is a good option for you, that is okay! It is natural for you to not know exactly what you want in the early stages of your pregnancy and adoption plan. But remember: you are not alone. Your adoption team with Adoption Choices of Texas will be there to assist you and answer any questions you have. Your friends, family and support team will have your back as well! So, don’t hesitate to ask for help or ask questions along the way. Everyone is here to help you through your adoption journey!
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!
