Introduction, Page 2

However, you will also encounter many warm and supportive people who will help guide and encourage you. Many reunited birth family members are staunch supporters of search and reunion and dedicate their time and energy to help others. You may meet some of the most caring and courageous people on earth during your journey.

The bond between a mother and her child is naturally sacred. It is physical, psychological and spiritual. It is very resilient and very flexible. It can stretch very far - naturally. Any artificial or violent injury to this "stretch" constitutes a serious psychic trauma to both mother and child - for all eternity. This means that children need their mothers and mothers need their children - whether or not a mother is married or unmarried. ~ Phyllis Chesler

The sheer volume of information available about searching might seem intimidating at first and lead you to believe that searching is an impossible task. That is not the case.

People separated by adoption find each other in a variety of ways, some quite astounding and unexpected. It would be infinitely easier if each search was identical; however, searches can be simple or complicated, and are resolved in many ways.

With the advent of the Internet, the time could not be better for birth family searching! The exchange of ideas and search tips through the Internet has made the whole search experience more searcher friendly. Searchers are no longer isolated and alone.

Many factors contribute to the length of time it takes to complete a search. Some of these factors include:

  1. The degree of difficulty of any given search due to a variety of circumstances;
  2. Whether the searcher is using a “hit and miss” technique of searching or a methodical organized plan;
  3. How much time and effort a searcher devotes to the search; and
  4. How much time has passed since the adoption occurred.

Searching can be exhausting and take a toll on a person. Some searchers start and stop several times before they decide to search in earnest. If a search becomes too overwhelming, you may need to stop and step back for a while.

Any cautionary comments about the challenges of a search are intended to educate, empower, and build confidence to move forward in your search. The old adage "forewarned is forearmed" definitely applies to adoption searchers!

According to some reputable statistics, the average search takes approximately six months to a year. Some searches are never resolved, although that particular outcome is relatively rare.

Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter



Previous Page

Credits: Jan Baker

 

http://www.omnitrace.com/birth-family.html