June 12, 2001    
begin

write

look

learn

find

If you had been given up for adoption as an infant, would you now search out your birth parent?

I think I'd be curious, but I don't know that I'd throw myself at that effort all that much. I mean if I'm happy, healthy, and otherwise satisfied, then............ If my birth parent searched me out, I'd meet with them but I don't know that I could create the type of relationship they'd be hoping for with them.

Firelady, 23
Dallas
, TX   USA

Not if I had grown up with a perfectly loving family. I wouldn't need to find the people that didn't want me anyways. But maybe I'm just saying that because my Dad is adolpted and that's what he thinks.

Dianne, 16
Oshawa, Ontario  CANADA

I'm sure I would have tried to at one point in time.

Alias Irrelevante

No I wouldn't. And I'd resent it if my biological parents came looking for me.

Laura, 36
Lowell
, MA   USA

Probably. I can fully understand a need to know as much as you can about your biological background.

Fisch, 45
Preston
, CT   USA

Yes.

Eric, 19
Beverly Hills
, CA  USA

Possibly. I'm curious, but I have a great respect for other people's privacy.

Jill, 60
Saylorsburg
, PA  USA

Yes, because it's important to have their medical history. My mother divorced my birth father when I was not yet two years old, and after I turned 18 Ilocated him and sent a polite letter requesting medical history information. Unfortunately, I never heard back.

etoile, 20
Washington
, DC  USA

Yes i believe i would. But only to say..."Thank you for my life...that  you missed the opportunity to be a part of."

Anjel, 20

The only circumstance in which I could imagine seeking out a birth parent would be if I developed a medical condition where my biological heritage was important to know.

Jane, 60
West Linn
, OR   USA

Of course. I think ancestery is very important and you have to know where you come from. Even if your adotive parents are/were wonderful, you still need to know your history.

Jaden, 21
Brampton, Ontario  CANADA

I don't know-part of me would figure that there was a reason and I should leave well enough alone, the other part would always wonder. I guess I'd research the situation before I decided if I wanted to search out the real parent or not.

Angela, 17
Bella Vista, AR USA

I don't know. Are my parents my birth parents or my adoptive parents? Am I seeking out strangers or my parents?

Karen, 21
Marshelltown/Ames
, IA  USA

No, I don't think so. But if I were in that situation, my answer might be different. It's easy to say what you would do IF...but you really never know what you'd do until you are faced with that particular situation.

Reba, 51
Rockville
, MD   USA

I suppose I would

Felicia, 35
Lowell
, MA   USA

it depends on the situation. i would want to know who she was and  why she decided to give me up for adoption (if it was because she couldn't provide a decent home for me or if she was too young, etc.). It would also be nice to know if there was any diseases that run in he family that i should  watch for. so yes, i think i would search for my birth parent if i had been adopted

Mandi, 16
Lake City
, MN   USA

I honestly don't know. I would think that I would want to know - but I also think that I may not want to know. I have a cousin who was adopted and never searched for his birth parents because he was happy with his life as it is.  Now, though, he is facing some medical issues that might be helped by knowing genetic history and of course he does not - so maybe searching for them would have helped. But, I have a friend who is adopted and found her birth parents - now there is this big rivalry with her birth mother trying to win her over -trying to almost "buy" her away - so maybe she never should have looked. Then, I have another friend who had a child when she was 14 and gave her up for adoption. 20 years later her birth daughter chose to look her up. They spend time together and have what seems to be a great relationship - although it is more like a friendship then a mother-daughter thing. So, I guess that it can turn out many ways and is different for each individual. I dont  think I would know how to answer the question unless I was in the situation.

Deb

I think I would want to know who my biological parents were, yes. At least as far as to know what the medical history of the family was. It is hard to say, seeing as I am not in those shoes.

Maggie, 20
Sandwich
, IL   USA

I would search to get my medical history and genetics as far as an adult but to persue a relationship, I'm not sure. When I was 2, my birth father left my mother, older brother and I. I have never met him and never wish to do so. I think someone who leave because they can't handle the responsibilty doesn't have the right to see their children unless of course it is the

Stephanie, 25
TX  USA

yes

Melodi, 19
Gahanna
, OH   USA

I can't say. It'd take a lot of time and effort to find my real parents, so it would depend on how strongly I feel about the matter.

Shanna, 16
Cardiff
  ENGLAND

Definitely!

Tracy, 24
Ocean City
, NJ  USA

I WAS given up for adoption, and no, I haven't searched for my biological parents.

Susan, 32
Chicago
, IL   USA

Yesterday / Tomorrow