Contents


Foreword


Author’s Notes

 

Acknowledgments

 

Preface

 

Prologue: The Politics of Adoption

 

Proceed Gently

 

Introduction

 

Welcome.

 

Part One: The Missing Baby

Chapter 1: Genesis: Troubled Waters

Chapter 2: Hideaways

Chapter 3: Birth Day

Chapter 4: On the Dotted Line

Chapter 5: Homeward Bound

Chapter 6: Aftermath

Chapter 7: Lost and Found

Chapter 8: Immaculate Deceptions

Chapter 9: Our Babies, Ourselves

Chapter 10: Throwaways

Chapter 11: Truth Be Known

 

Part Two: Reclaiming the Self

Chapter 12: The Truth Hurts

Chapter 13: Triage: Treating the Wounded Soul

Chapter 14: To Search or Not to Search

 

Chapter 15: Rebuilding Your Identity

Chapter 16: Taking Charge of Your Life, with and

without Therapy

Chapter 17: If Your Child is in a Closed Adoption

 

Part Three: Getting Help

Chapter 18: Choosing the Right Therapist

Chapter 19: From the Therapist’s Perspective

Chapter 20: Finding a Support Group

 

Part Four: The Challenge to Heal

Chapter 21: Healing the Inner Child: An Innovative Approach

Chapter 22: Anger

Chapter 23: Visualization Techniques

Chapter 24: Affirmations

Chapter 25: Mourning for Mothers

Chapter 26: One Woman’s Journey

Chapter 27: The Respect We Never Got

 

Part Five: Appendices

Appendix A: What Mothers Do Not Wish to Hear

Appendix B: About Sealed Adoption Records

Appendix C: Loss in the Adoption Hand-Off

Appendix D: Things to Do with Your Inner Child

Appendix E: Resources and Readings

Appendix F: Important Guidelines


Epilogue


About the Authors