Adoption is a lifelong process

On September 6, 2026August 30, 2026 By lynellelongIn Abandonment and Rejection, Abuse in Adoption, Adjustment and Transition, Adoptee Intimate Relationships, Adoptee Support, Adoptee support provided by adoptees, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Attachment, adoption conversations, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, Adoption questions, adoptive family dialogue, adoptive parent reflection, Aloneness, Isolation, colourblindness in adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Finding biological mother, Importance of Connections to Origins, Intercultural struggles, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Not Knowing in Adoption, Peer support, Racial Mirrors, Racism in Adoption, Return to Birth Country, Return to Birth Country, Sense of Belonging, Suicide, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Lynelle presents that adoptees need informed, compassionate and lifelong support as they navigate identity, belonging and the complexities of living between two worlds.

Belonging: The Lifelong Question Many Adoptees Cannot Answer

On August 21, 2026July 28, 2026 By lynellelongIn Abandonment and Rejection, Abuse in Adoption, Adoptee Anger, adoptee emotional burden, Adoptee Intimate Relationships, Adoptee Support, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, adoption and silence, Adoption Attachment, Adoption Conversations, adoption conversations, adoption estrangement, Adoption questions, adoptive family dialogue, adoptive parent defensiveness, Alcohol and drug addiction, Aloneness, Isolation, Citizenship in Adoption, colourblindness in adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, first family separation, Forced separation, Generational trauma, Gratitude in Adoption, Intercultural struggles, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Origins Search, Peer support, Post Adoption Support, Racial Mirrors, Racism in Adoption, Return to Birth Country, Return to Birth Country, Searching but no reunion in adoption, Sense of Belonging, Sexual Abuse in Adoption, Survival mechanisms, Therapy, Third Culture Kid (TCK), Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Lynelle discusses why so many intercountry adoptees struggle to feel they belong? A powerful personal reflection on identity, family, race, loss and finding belonging.

Adoptee Suicidality and Living with the Exit Sign

On July 23, 2026July 8, 2026 By Guest BloggerIn Abandonment and Rejection, Abuse in Adoption, Adjustment and Transition, Adoptee Anger, adoptee emotional burden, adoptee in prison, Adoptee Support, Adoptee vulnerability, adoption accountability, adoption and power imbalance, adoption and silence, Adoption Attachment, Adoption Conversations, adoption conversations, adoption estrangement, Adoption questions, adoptive family dialogue, Adoptive parents, Alcohol and drug addiction, colourblindness in adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, denial gaslighting minimisation by others, Difficult discussions in adoption, Finding biological mother, Generational trauma, Gratitude in Adoption, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, Intercultural struggles, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Peer Support, Peer support, Post Adoption Support, Racial Mirrors, Racism in Adoption, Return to Birth Country, right to identity, Rights in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Suicide, Survival mechanisms, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

A personal reflection on adoptee suicidality, identity, abandonment and hope, exploring how adoption can shape mental health while choosing, each day, to stay.

Conversations Across Adoption – Part 6

On July 4, 2026May 27, 2026 By lynellelongIn Adoptee Anger, adoptee emotional burden, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, adoption accountability, adoption and power imbalance, adoption and silence, Adoption Attachment, adoption conversations, Adoption Education for Professionals, adoption estrangement, Adoption policy, Adoption questions, adoption reform, adoptive family dialogue, adoptive parent defensiveness, adoptive parent reflection, adoptive parent responsibility, Advocacy, Alternatives to Adoption, Birth family trauma, Birth Parents Searching, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Family Preservation, Finding biological mother, First family responsibility, first family separation, Generational trauma, Gratitude in Adoption, Grief and Loss, human rights abuses in adoption, identity restoration, Illegal Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, Justice Routes, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Lived experience leadership, Motherloss, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Peer Support, Politics of Adoption, Post Adoption Support, reparative justice in adoption, Return to Birth Country, Return to Birth Country, right to identity, Rights in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, State responsibilities in adoption, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, Truth and Reconciliation Commission TRCLeave a comment

Adoptee Lynelle and adoptive parent Kristin reflect on truth, accountability, grief, and whether honesty can create deeper connection within adoption.

Conversations Across Adoption – Part 1

On May 30, 2026June 1, 2026 By Guest BloggerIn 1993 Hague Convention, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoption Attachment, Adoption Conversations, Adoption questions, Adoptive parents, Adoptive parents silence on illegal adoptions, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Exploring adoptive parent journey, Finding biological mother, Forced separation, Generational trauma, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, intercountry adoption investigation, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Norway, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Peer Support, Politics of Adoption, Reparation in Adoption, Return to Birth Country, Rights in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, South Korea, Trauma in Adoption, Truth and Reconciliation Commission TRCLeave a comment

Kristin, a Norwegian adoptive parent reflects on listening to adoptees, acknowledging harm, and supporting truth, identity, and accountability in adoption.

When search doesn’t lead to reunion: A Bulgarian adoptee’s reality

On May 13, 2026May 12, 2026 By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee Names, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoption Attachment, Adoption questions, Bulgaria, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, DNA Searching, Finding biological mother, Forced separation, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, legal identity erasure, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Post Adoption Support, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Searching but no reunion in adoption, Sense of Belonging, Trauma in Adoption, USA1 Comment

Nicole, adopted from Bulgaria, shares the painful reality of searching for origins, identity, and family—while learning to live without answers.

When Adoption Erases Sisters

On March 25, 2026March 11, 2026 By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee Activism, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoption Attachment, adoption reform, Advocacy, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Family Preservation, Forced separation, Grief and Loss, human rights abuses in adoption, identity restoration, Illicit Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, intercountry adoption investigation, Is adoption the best option, Legal Action taken by Adoptees, legal identity erasure, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Reparation in Adoption, reparative justice in adoption, Rights in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sri Lanka, State responsibilities in adoption, Suicide, The Netherlands, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

A Sri Lankan adoptee, Sita, in the Netherlands shares why restoring identity and family ties must follow the ending of international adoption.

Love, Relationships, and the Impact of Adoption

On March 11, 2026March 11, 2026 By Guest BloggerIn Abandonment and Rejection, Adoptee Intimate Relationships, Adoptee Support, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Attachment, Adoption questions, Australia, Complexities in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Forced separation, Generational trauma, Gratitude in Adoption, incarcerated adoptee, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Post Adoption Support, Racial Mirrors, Racism in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Sri Lanka, Survival mechanisms, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Jonti reflects on how adoption trauma shaped his relationships, emotional reactions, and journey toward growth.

Agent Orange, Adoption, and the Long Reach of War

On February 21, 2026February 5, 2026 By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Attachment, Adoption questions, Advocacy, Birth family trauma, Birth mother choices, Birth Parents Searching, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Finding biological mother, Forced separation, Generational trauma, Grief and Loss, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Motherloss, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Return to Birth Country, Sense of Belonging, Survival mechanisms, Sweden, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, VietnamLeave a comment

Vietnam adoptee Vinh shares his search for family, the impact of Agent Orange, reunion with his mother, and a call to heal trauma and end violence.

New Motherhood Journey

On January 24, 2025December 30, 2024 By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees as parents, Adoption Attachment, Belgium, Complexities in Adoption, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Motherloss, Not Knowing in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Transracial Adoption, VietnamLeave a comment

Mai Linh shares her thoughts since becoming a new mother as a Vietnamese adoptee.

Black Lotus

On January 17, 2025December 30, 2024 By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee Anger, Adoptee Artists, Adoptee Artwork, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoption Attachment, Alternate therapies in adoption, Art therapy, Complexities in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Generational trauma, Germany, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, Korea, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Sense of BelongingLeave a comment

Jonas Haid shares his artwork Black Lotus created and inspired by his own story of adoption from Sth Korea to Germany.

Adopted to Norway

On February 14, 2024February 14, 2024 By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee Artists, Adoptee Artwork, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoption Attachment, Adoption Book, Complexities in Adoption, Korea, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Norway, Poetry by Adoptees, South Korea, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption1 Comment

Vår Benum is adopted from Sth Korea to Norway and shares artwork created for her poetry, describing the lifelong journey of being an intercountry adoptee.

The Trauma Inherent in Relinquishment and Adoption

On June 13, 2022April 24, 2024 By lynellelongIn Abandonment and Rejection, Adjustment and Transition, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Attachment, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Gratitude in Adoption, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Racism in Adoption, Return to Birth Country, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Lynelle's recent Podcast interview with Doc Shauna Springer on the trauma inherent in adoption.

Participating in The Colour of Difference: Long Term Outcomes

On April 6, 2022February 2, 2024 By lynellelongIn Abandonment and Rejection, Abuse in Adoption, Adjustment and Transition, Adoptee Anger, Adoptee Artists, Adoptee Birthdays, Adoptee support provided by adoptees, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Attachment, Adoption Book, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, Australia, Birth Country, Complexities in Adoption, Diversity in Adoption, Eating Disorder and Adoption, Gratitude in Adoption, Grief and Loss, ICAV Beginnings, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Not Knowing in Adoption, Older Age Adoptions, Origins Search, Racial Mirrors, Racism in Adoption, Return to Birth Country, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Suicide, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Lynelle shares how participating in PARCs book project to produce The Colour of Difference changed her life and began the adoptee network InterCountry Adoptee Voices.

My Adoption Day Is An Anniversary of Loss

On March 7, 2022June 1, 2024 By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee vulnerability, Adoption Attachment, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Forced separation, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Korea, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Sense of Belonging, South Korea, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, USALeave a comment

Mary shares how Adoption Day anniversary can trigger feelings of grief and loss that pervade her life; coming to terms with it, making the most of life now.