This book was given to me by our adoption agency, back in 1988. I found it very informative and an emotionally powerful book. This is a classic and a must read for anyone in the adoption triad particularly anyone new to adoption. There are so many feelings and emotions in adoption for everyone involved and this book reveals those true emotions and helps the reader develop an understanding of open adoption.

This book allowed my husband and I to understand the evolution of open adoption -- what we now believe to be natural adoption. More importantly, "Dear Birthmother" described adoption from the perspective of birthmothers, which was a critical viewpoint for us hear while we were trying to also understand the concept of openness in adoption. When we were first considering adoption, we thought we'd want a "safe" experience where we'd only meet the birthmom and then she'd disappear. This book helped us see the range of openness that might be possible, as well as how closed adoption might feel instead. After reading this book and sharing many conversations about the idea of openness, our child was born and we began to experience the growth of our amazing, loving extended family that included our child's birthparents and birthgrandparents. How lucky we ALL began to feel. Now, during the wait for our second adoption, this book reminds me of how sure we are of open adoption and the abiding respect we have for the birthmother of our first child born to us through adoption.

I was one of many birth-mothers who received a copy of this book when considering open adoption. It seemed to be written for the adoptive perents to persuade them into open adption. The Open Adoption Experiance and The Other Mother are much better choices for birthmothers, and really give them the information they would need to make an informed choice.

As a birth mother I received this book from my son's adoptive mother. Reading through the pages was like reliving my experience all over again, but this time my tears were of joy. Thank you for creating a book that acknowledges bmoms & lets them know that they aren't alone even if it does feel like it.

I first read this book in 1988 when i was pregnant with my first child at the age of 15. The author of this book wrote it so well and it helped me through a very rough time in my life. I recommend this book to any one in the adoption triangle.