When families or expectant mothers approach us, they often bring the same sets of questions.  They ask about timelines, about openness, about finances, and about how the baby will feel about adoption down the road.

There are no standard, one size fits all answers.

Chicago Now has recently run a story series entitled Portraits of Adoption – 30 adoption stories in 30 days.  Keep in mind that these are peoples stories told as they remember and interpret them – in other words, not everything presented as fact may be factual, but it is how they feel.

There are stories of open adoption and closed adoption, of mysteries hidden forever and others revealed in dramatic fashion.  There are stories of unassisted adoptions and agencies – both good and bad.   Don’t take the stories as rules to be followed, but more to show the breadth of peoples’ experiences.

One thing that seems to shine through all the stories is that the more open people are with their children about their adoption, the more well adjusted the children become.  Of course there are exceptions to all generalities, but a good case can be made that more information is better than less, when presented at the right time.

If you’re considering adoption, or if you just can’t turn away from a good story, you can find them all here.