From The Blog - Community Wisdom

Should a first mom be more like a non-custodial parent?

Often when considering open adoption, adoptive families are told that shared parenting is a myth and is not ever a good thing. I believe differently. I DO believe that in most situations where shared parenting would be ideal for the child, the adoption probably shouldn't have happened to begin with. However how often have we seen it that a mom who is college bound and gentle and loving and without drug or alcohol problems winds up placing for whatever reason? In many cases the first parents may not be interested in shared parenting, however if they are, why not? Why is the first family considered to be "needed" and simultaneously "not needed"? What exactly is the open adoption supposed to provide if not an acknowledgment that the adoptee has two families and needs all of them equally? How can the first mother to be considered an "equal" parent if ...Click here to read more »