Adoption: An Open, Semi-Open or Closed Practice? Reflections by an American adoptive mother on infant adoption, birth and reunion

By Gisela Gasper Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald is both a biological and adoptive mother and in this memoir examines the pros and cons of open, semi-open, and closed adoption practices from the point of view of adoptees, birthmothers,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1592869130
• ISBN13: 9781592869138
• Release Date: July 2003
• Publisher: Publishamerica Inc
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 0.5" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

Should be required reading for birth and adoptive parents

Finally people are beginning to realize that adoption doesn't end for the birthmother when she signs the relinquishment papers, or for the adoptive parents when the court papers are signed, and certainly not for the adoptee. It's a lifelong adjustment that brings unique issues to all the members. A welcome change for those of us who had to survive the era when everyone thought the best way to handle adoption was to keep secrets and tell lies.

A thorough, heartfelt meditation on adoption

This book is a must read for anyone interested in adoption. First of all, it is very thorough, analyzing many aspects of adoption from a number of different angles. The author isn't trying to push any particular point of view on the reader, but instead gives a nice overview of the relevant issues, and at times adds her opinion. Not only is there a lot of useful information in this book, but it also is a heartwarming story about the author's adoption of her daughter and eventual reunification with the birth mother. It is a very engaging story, and should be read by anyone wanting to learn more about adoption, or anyone who enjoys a heartwarming story.

I strongly recommend this to prospective adoptive parents

This is a very interesting combination of memoir and advocacy. Most books promote one adoption practice over the other, sometimes even with a fundamentalist air to it. Fitzgerald takes up all three practices: closed, semi-open and open, and rejects closed, or secret adoption because of her personal experience with it, but then wrestles with what might be a better practice, open or semi-open. The research cited on the issue seems, at this time, to favor the semi-open practice but leaves open the idea that there is no one-size-fits all approach. Fitzgerald's experience with the birthmother is touching and also the birthmother's belief that she could not have coped with an open adoption but would have preferred a semi-open one over secrecy. By contrast, the daughter, now an adult and a mother herself, would once more have wanted a closed adoption. Anyone looking for a straight-forward answer about adoption practices will not find one. It is truly an individual matter. Become as informed as possible and then decide for yourself what practice would be best for you.

A birthmother's view

Once I began reading this book, I really couldn't put it down.The fact that I had a personal interest in it..(I am the birthmother mentioned)..made this book very compelling, indeed!It also gave me great insight into the perspectives of the adoptive parents, and revealed the feelings and the emotions of the adopted child herself.She was no longer the infant of my imagination, but a full-grown accomplished young woman with a mind of her own!Notably, this is not a book just for the benefit of the characters in it, but moreover it is a book anyone would find interesting. It is a memoir;it is an education;it's a reflection;it's real life!It will stir your emotions and challenge your previous beliefs,biases,and/or prejudices.It will stimulate new thought and bring light into the world of adoption!Many truths spark the wisdom of this book and it will inform and delight the reader.I highly recommend it!