ABSTRACT
Many prospective adoptive parents think, “I would like to be able to do an open adoption, I can see where it would be good for the child, but it just seems too hard and too complicated.” Open adoption can be hard sometimes, and it is often complicated, so what makes it work for so many families? In this chapter we will discuss the difference between structure and process in open adoption, discuss the tools that are most helpful in effective communication, setting good boundaries, and managing conflict, followed by a look at the responsibilities of birth and adoptive parents. Finally, we will hear from a birth mother, an adoptive mother, and the 21-year-old son. The son says, “Knowing who and where I am from solidifies things for me. I wouldn’t want to imagine my life without an open adoption.”
