ABSTRACT
The author interviews an adopted professional for this chapter and explores how, for each of us, our histories and childhood experiences can influence (consciously or unconsciously) our choice of profession. She explains how this is perhaps more noticeable for those working within the helping or “healing” professions, where there may be an underlying motivation to help or heal others. She reflects on how some adults who were themselves adopted have chosen to work in the area of adoption.
The professional she interviewed for this chapter works closely with birth mothers who have had babies removed and placed for adoption and has a curiosity about mothers who relinquish or “lose” their babies. Within this context, the author explores patterns of behaviour in birth mothers, and potentially fathers, who continue to have babies who are then removed and how they are constantly being reminded of loss and experiencing severed attachments. The possibility of hopefulness and change does come through in this chapter, but only when birth mothers receive the support they need to break the cycle.
