http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/news/wabc_101904_openadoption.html

More Families Trying Open Adoption
By Michelle Charlesworth
(Highland Lakes-WABC, October 19, 2004) — We are going to take a closer look
at open adoptions.


While it is nearly impossible to track the number of open adoptions, experts
say they are growing in popularity, primarily because they encourage an on
going relationship between the adoptive and birth parents.

But it is not for everyone.

Here's Eyewitness News reporter Michelle Charlesworth.

Jennifer Budz, Birth Mom: "When I went into labor, I called them and left a
message on their machine, 'I'm going to the hospital.' And they jumped in their
van and drove down to New Jersey."

Jennifer Budz is the biological mother of a 17-month-old bundle of love named
Julian. Two people named Bobbi and David Teagarden are the only parents he's
ever known. In fact, they took him home from the hospital.

David Teagarden, Julian's Dad: "I have uncles, I have aunts, brothers and
sisters. That's what makes up my family. He has the same thing, plus he has
biological siblings, and biological parents. And that's what he knows."

The Teagardens liked the idea of an open adoption, and they had already been
through a closed one with their first son. And Bobbi, who is also adopted, said
that as a kid she would have liked to have known more.

Bobbi Teagarden, Julian's Mom: "When I found out that I had siblings, I didn't
even know that until I was older, I went to the high school that they went to
to look up their old yearbook, 'Do I look like them?' (Julian) doesn't have to
do that."

Ronny Lester is with the adoption agency.

Ronny Lester, Adoption Counselor: "There is no shared custody, the adoptive
parents are the parents. The birth parents have relinquished all their legal
rights, they're not advisers, they're not consultants. They are like relatives
who have an interest in a child."

In this case, the Teagardens and Jennifer see each other about once a month.
Which brings up a question about the rules -- do Julian's parents ever have
disagreements with Jennifer about child-rearing?

Bobbi Teagarden: "No, because we're the parents. So ..."
Michelle Charlesworth: "She doesn't get a vote."
Bobbi Teagarden: "No. No offense (laughs)!"

So "open" just means "open file," more or less. With the idea that fewer
unanswered questions might make things easier for everyone in the long run.

Bobbi Teagarden: "People are scared, they think that the birth parents or the
children are going to have an identity crisis. He knows who his mom and dad
are."

That is certainly true, which for Jennifer, Bobbi, David and Julian, is a
beautiful thing.


-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown

***top post***

<snip>
Ronny Lester, Adoption Counselor: "There is no shared custody, the adoptiveparents are the parents. The birth parents have relinquished all their legalrights, they're not advisers, they're not consultants. They are likerelativeswho have an interest in a child.">>

And in fact, ARE relatives who have an interest in the child. Aside from that
remark, his description of open adoption is succinct.

LilMtnCbn posts:
More Families Trying Open AdoptionBy Michelle Charlesworth(Highland Lakes-WABC, October 19, 2004) — We are going to take a closer lookat open adoptions.While it is nearly impossible to track the number of open adoptions, expertssay they are growing in popularity, primarily because they encourage an ongoing relationship between the adoptive and birth parents.But it is not for everyone.Here's Eyewitness News reporter Michelle Charlesworth.Jennifer Budz, Birth Mom: "When I went into labor, I called them and left amessage on their machine, 'I'm going to the hospital.' And they jumped intheirvan and drove down to New Jersey."Jennifer Budz is the biological mother of a 17-month-old bundle of love namedJulian. Two people named Bobbi and David Teagarden are the only parents he'sever known. In fact, they took him home from the hospital.David Teagarden, Julian's Dad: "I have uncles, I have aunts, brothers andsisters. That's what makes up my family. He has the same thing, plus he hasbiological siblings, and biological parents. And that's what he knows."The Teagardens liked the idea of an open adoption, and they had already beenthrough a closed one with their first son. And Bobbi, who is also adopted,saidthat as a kid she would have liked to have known more.Bobbi Teagarden, Julian's Mom: "When I found out that I had siblings, Ididn'teven know that until I was older, I went to the high school that they went toto look up their old yearbook, 'Do I look like them?' (Julian) doesn't havetodo that."Ronny Lester is with the adoption agency.Ronny Lester, Adoption Counselor: "There is no shared custody, the adoptiveparents are the parents. The birth parents have relinquished all their legalrights, they're not advisers, they're not consultants. They are likerelativeswho have an interest in a child."In this case, the Teagardens and Jennifer see each other about once a month.Which brings up a question about the rules -- do Julian's parents ever havedisagreements with Jennifer about child-rearing?Bobbi Teagarden: "No, because we're the parents. So ..."Michelle Charlesworth: "She doesn't get a vote."Bobbi Teagarden: "No. No offense (laughs)!"So "open" just means "open file," more or less. With the idea that fewerunanswered questions might make things easier for everyone in the long run.Bobbi Teagarden: "People are scared, they think that the birth parents or thechildren are going to have an identity crisis. He knows who his mom and dadare."That is certainly true, which for Jennifer, Bobbi, David and Julian, is abeautiful thing.


P2P

Yes Your right. They are my sons relatives.