I largely agree with the idea of biological connection. With my own son his link to his sister (who doesn't live with us but we maintain the link) is important to him, and he wants to meet up with his birth parents when it is safe for him to do…

No problem. I don't check Medium that often but please do! I guess it does also depend on what you think identity is or means. Does changing the person named with your parental rights/responsibilities mean that you are a different person legally? And even if it does, what exactly does…

I like what you say, but thought I should add my own thoughts from a more contemporary UK background too, as it is plain a lot of older adopted people haven't quite appreciated how far the system has evolved. Yes, it could evolve more, not saying it doesn't need to…

'Support not Separation' are a contemporary campaigning group, and most adopters I think would agree with the majority of their aims. The trouble is they are deliberately conflating the child protection and care system with adoption in order to gain publicity, which muddys the waters somewhat. If their children really…

Thanks, a fascinating read. I came across the term relatively recently too, and wrote a slightly overwrought reaction to it that was more knee-jerk than considered - https://medium.com/@adoptionthoughts/the-fog-18f63ce6d140 - due to the way I found out about it. I realise this is really about a conversation between adopted people, and…

Thanks, another interesting article. I must say that you have a very odd idea about what adoption is, but maybe that is informed by where you live or when you were adopted? It isn't 'Long Lost Family' anymore, and hasn't been for at least a generation - there is a…

Thanks for your reply. As I said, I adopted under a very different system to yours. Yes, the birth parents will have been convicted of a serious crime against the child. Yes the birth certificate does remain intact. Yes an adoption certificate is issued. Yes we are named as parents…

Despite adopting under a completely different system your article struck a chord with me, not the least because many, if not most, adoptions in the UK *are* essentially a witness protection scheme, with the child being under threat from the birth parents, at least at the time of adoption! Although…

I just stumbled on this from a google search about something else completely but it must have been serendipity as I am an adopter (in the UK). I was impressed by your article. Most children placed for adoption nowadays over here have learning difficulties or developmental delay, so can't really…