What is Open Adoption in Texas?

Building your family through adoption can be rewarding, but it can also be confusing. As a result, maybe you’re wondering, “What is open adoption in Texas?”

Whether you’ve adopted a child before or you’re starting your adoption journey from scratch, our team would love to help you.

Here at American Adoptions, we know that adoption can be an exciting yet challenging experience. That’s why we’re here to answer all your questions about open adoption.

Keep reading to learn more about open adoption in Texas, or call us now at 1-800-ADOPTION. You can also fill out our online contact form to get free adoption information now.

What Is Open Adoption in Texas?

Open adoption in Texas means that you will have direct communication with your child’s birth parents. Contrary to closed adoptions, where you might not even know the birth parents’ last names, open adoption allows you to stay in touch with the birth family.

What Does Open Adoption in Texas Look Like?

Keep in mind that open adoption in Texas can look different for each family. The amount and style of communication will depend completely on the prospective birth mother’s preferences.

For example, some birth parents would like pictures every year that includes updates on the child’s life.

Other ways to communicate include:

• In-person visits
• Text messages
• Emails
• Letters
• Videos

Each adoptive and birth family is different, which means that open adoption is a unique experience that will depend on your situation.

Adoption: Then and Now

In the past, adoption was often something people tried to keep a secret.

Almost every adoption was a closed adoption, meaning that there was little to no communication after the adoption took place. Even if a child knew they were adopted, they were unlikely to ever speak with their birth parents.

In many cases, children never knew who their birth parents were. One of the main drawbacks of closed adoption is that it can cause stress for the adoptee.

Many adoptees want to know:

• Who their birth parents are
• What their heritage is
• Why they were placed for adoption

Openness in adoption in Texas can solve this problem, which is one reason that most adoptive families in the Lone Star State choose open adoption in Texas.

One birth mother, Sara, cherishes the relationship she has with her child’s adoptive parents thanks to open adoption.

The three of them text, talk and video chat with each other regularly, which means Sara gets to watch her child grow up with his new family. She even was able to attend his first birthday party.

 “I hope Teddy will always know how much I love him and that this was the hardest decision I’ve ever made,” Sara says. “But I made it in his best interest. I made it for him to have better opportunities, to have a future, to grow up and be something big, and I always hope to be a part of his life.”

You can read more stories about open adoption on our adoptive family and birth mother testimonials pages.

Normalizing Adoption [3 Steps]

As an adoptive parent, it’s important to normalize adoption as much as possible. In fact, there are three important steps you can take to help your child feel as safe and comfortable as possible with their open adoption in Texas.

1. Talk about Adoption

One of the best ways you can normalize adoption is simply to talk about it. Lindsay, a birth mother, suggests talking about adoption with your child as often as you can. “Let your child know that they were chosen twice: once by their birth mother and once by their adoptive parents,” she says.

2. Include Your Child’s Birth Mother

Make sure your child’s birth mother is included in your child’s life.

For example, when you opt for an open adoption in Texas, you can send your child’s birth mother pictures of their life. You can write letters, make phone calls and even have visits.

For some adoptive parents, the idea of including a birth parent may seem strange at first. But remember that your child’s birth parent just wants to know that their baby is happy and growing up in a loving home.

Some other things you can do to include your child’s birth mother include:

• Inviting them to parties and family events
• Video chatting regularly
• Letting your child’s birth mother know about important milestones
• Talking with your child about how their birth mother chose adoption for them
• Sending cards and letters to your child’s birth mother

3. Stay Positive about the Adoption

Although adoption can be a stressful and emotional time, it’s important to stay positive when you talk with your child about their adoption. You can recognize that adoption is challenging, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. Setting a positive standard when you talk about adoption can help break down the stigma surrounding it.

Remember to focus on the most important part of the adoption: the fact that you got to welcome them to your family!

Getting Started With Open Adoption

If you’re ready to start the adoption process, then reach out today. Our team is ready to answer your questions about open adoption in Texas and help you match with a prospective birth parent.

Get free information now on our website or call 1-800-ADOPTION to get started at any time.

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