Category: Multiple Identities

The Feeling of Not Belonging Anywhere

On By lynellelongIn Abuse in Adoption, Adoptee Anger, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, Australia, Eating Disorder and Adoption, Family Preservation, Gratitude in Adoption, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Korea, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Racism in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, South Korea, Suicide, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Michelle shares the complexities as an intercountry adoptee and the ongoing feeling of not belonging and how this underlies her many medical diagnoses.

Bolivian Adoptee Anthology Book Review

On By lynellelongIn Abandonment and Rejection, Abuse in Adoption, Adoptee Anger, Adoptee Artists, Adoptee Artwork, Adoptee support provided by adoptees, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Book, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, Belgium, Bolivia, Canada, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, DNA Searching, France, Gratitude in Adoption, Importance of Connections to Origins, Italy, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Norway, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Racial Mirrors, Racism in Adoption, Return to Birth Country, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, USALeave a comment

Lynelle provides a review of the Bolivian adoptee anthology Communal Histories of Displacement and Adoption by the Network of Bolivian Adoptees

Embracing Therapy as an Adoptee

On By Guest BloggerIn Adoptees Educate, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, Complexities in Adoption, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Russia, Sense of Belonging, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, USALeave a comment

Oleg shares the journey from being ashamed of needing therapy to fully embracing and recognising the benefits it added to his life as an intercountry adoptee.

Search and Reunion in Intercountry Adoption

On By lynellelongIn Adoptee Search Service Orgs, Adoptee support provided by adoptees, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, Adoptive Country, Birth Country, Birth Parents Searching, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, DNA Searching, Importance of Connections to Origins, Key Themes in Search and Reunion, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Not Knowing in Adoption, Not ready for Reunion, Origins Search, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Lynelle provides a summary of ICAVs 2016 Perspective Paper: Search & Reunion - Impacts & Outcomes

The Trauma Inherent in Relinquishment and Adoption

On 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.

Lived Experience of Racism in Transracial Intercountry Adoption

On By lynellelongIn Adjustment and Transition, Adoptee support provided by adoptees, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, Adoptive Country, Antiracism Education, Beauty in Diversity, Birth Country, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Diversity in Adoption, Gratitude in Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, 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, Racial Mirrors, Racism in Adoption, Rights in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption1 Comment

ICAVs panel webinar on the Lived Experience of Racism in Transracial Intercountry Adoption.

Participating in The Colour of Difference: Long Term Outcomes

On 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.

Voices Against Illegal Adoptions Speak at the United Nations

On By lynellelongIn 1993 Hague Convention, Adoptee Activism, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Agencies, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, adoption reform, Adoptive Country, Birth Country, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Family Preservation, Grief and Loss, Illegal Adoption, Illicit Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, 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, Reparation in Adoption, Rights in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, UN Joint Statement Illegal Adoption, What is an Illegal and Illicit Adoption?Leave a comment

Lynelle represents Voices Against Illegal Adoption (VAIA) to the United Nations Committees who drafted a joint statement about illegal intercountry adoptions.

Toxicity and Grief

On By Guest BloggerIn Abandonment and Rejection, Adoptee Anger, Adoptee Artists, Adoptee Artwork, Complexities in Adoption, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Origins Search, Philippines, Racial Mirrors, Sense of Belonging, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, USALeave a comment

by Dan R Moen, adopted from the Philippines to the USA. Part three of this series focuses on toxicity and its impact with grief. The black vine-like shapes represent toxicity and how it manifests itself within and around all of us. It’s depicted as an uncontrollable beast and has completely engulfed an individual. It grows …

Continue reading Toxicity and Grief

Governments Finally Recognising Illicit and Illegal Intercountry Adoption Practices

On By lynellelongIn 1993 Hague Convention, Adoptee Activism, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Agencies, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, adoption reform, Adoptive Country, Adoptive parents silence on illegal adoptions, Birth Country, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Family Preservation, Illegal Adoption, Illicit Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Reparation in Adoption, Rights in Adoption, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, UN Joint Statement Illegal Adoption, What is an Illegal and Illicit Adoption?1 Comment

This is one common scenario, it doesn't cover children overtly stolen from hospitals and many other ways I'm an adoptee remaining hopeful I’m very excited and feeling hopeful after hearing Belgium’s recent news, that their Minister has announced his intention to ask Parliament to suspend all adoptions for the next 2 years as a result …

Continue reading Governments Finally Recognising Illicit and Illegal Intercountry Adoption Practices

Lifelong Impacts of Identity Loss

On By lynellelongIn 1993 Hague Convention, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Education for Professionals, adoption reform, Citizenship in Adoption, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Family Preservation, Forced separation, Generational trauma, Hague Special Commission, Illicit Adoption, 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, Rights in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Survival mechanisms, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Lynelle shares about the impact of identity loss in intercountry adoption, including the views of other adoptees to help build a more in-depth understanding.

We Need To Talk About Adoptee Suicide, Now

On By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee vulnerability, Colombia, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Forced separation, 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, Racism in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Suicide, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, USA2 Comments

Lina shares part 2 of her discussion into adoptee suicide - something we must talk about if we are going to provide a more supportive space.

Adoptee Dualities

On By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee Support, Adoptee vulnerability, Colombia, Complexities in Adoption, Forced separation, Gratitude in Adoption, Grief and Loss, Intercultural struggles, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Peer support, Rights in Adoption, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, USA1 Comment

Abby explores the complex dualities adoptees face, from identity and family connections to cultural struggles, highlighting the emotional toll of navigating adoption experiences.

Lived Experience Suggestions for Responses to Illicit Adoptions

On By lynellelongIn 1993 Hague Convention, Adoption Agencies, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Family Preservation, Illegal Adoption, Illicit Adoption, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Post Adoption Support, Transracial AdoptionLeave a comment

ICAVs newest Perspective Paper: How Authorities and Bodies could Respond to Illicit Adoptions

Questioning

On By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee vulnerability, Adoption questions, Colombia, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Grief and Loss, Illegal Adoption, Illicit Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Not Knowing in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Survival mechanisms, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, USA, What is an Illegal and Illicit Adoption?Leave a comment

Abby reflects on curiosity, identity, trauma, and the importance of questioning societal norms and systems, while seeking healing and understanding.

When Pain and Loss is Too Much

On By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Attachment, Australia, Complexities in Adoption, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, India, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Sense of Belonging, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption1 Comment

Indian adoptee Pooja shares the challenges of her complex life being adopted to Australia.

Who Am I?

On By jaymekyopoIn Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Korea, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Not Knowing in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, USALeave a comment

Jayme questions who he is as an intercountry adoptee from Sth Korea.

The Power of Peer Support

On By lynellelongIn Adoptee support provided by adoptees, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Adoptive Country, Birth Country, Complexities in Adoption, Diversity in Adoption, ICAV Beginnings, Importance of Connections to Origins, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Racial Mirrors, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Lynelle writes critically about the power of peer support in intercountry adoption.

Twins separated by Adoption

On By lynellelongIn Adoption Agencies, Adoption Documentary, Alternatives to Adoption, Birth family trauma, Birth Parents Searching, China, China, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, DNA Searching, Family Preservation, Forced separation, Gratitude in Adoption, Grief and Loss, Illegal Adoption, Illicit Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, 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, Post Adoption Support, Reparation in Adoption, Rights in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, UN Joint Statement Illegal Adoption, USA, What is an Illegal and Illicit Adoption?6 Comments

Lynelle writes critically about the intercountry adoption processes that knowingly separate biological twins.

Colombian Intercountry Adoptee Anthology

On By lynellelongIn Abandonment and Rejection, Abuse in Adoption, Adjustment and Transition, Adoptee Anger, Adoptee Birthdays, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Attachment, Adoption Book, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, Alcohol and drug addiction, Colombia, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Diversity in Adoption, DNA Searching, Eating Disorder and Adoption, Family Preservation, Forced separation, Gratitude in Adoption, Grief and Loss, Illegal Adoption, 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, Poetry by Adoptees, Politics of Adoption, Racial Mirrors, Racism in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Suicide, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

The first Colombian intercountry adoptee anthology that shares the many complexities of being adopted from Colombia, edited and compiled by Abby Forero-Hilty.

When is adoption NOT in the best interests of the child?

On By lynellelongIn Abuse in Adoption, Adoptee Birthdays, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoption Agencies, Adoptive parents, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Forced separation, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Politics of Adoption, Rights in Adoption, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, Twins in adoption, Unique adoptions, USA, VietnamLeave a comment

Where are the rights of adoptees when they are legally "de-twinned" by their adoptive parents? How is this in the "best interests of the child"?