I’ve been a grandma for almost 20 years now. I have had 26 cumulative years of grandparenting if I add up my three granddaughters.
As my children, all adopted, grew up, I had many opportunities to learn about adoption, through my lived experience and through professional work and training. My grandchildren are not adopted. They, like their parents, are people of color; I am white. As is true for my children, my grandchildren have no biological connection to me. Adoption affects them even so, through their parents. Add into that their genetic ancestors, some known, some unknown.
I’ve thought lots about how adoption affects me as a grandparent, and how it affects my grandchildren. I know many adult adoptees who are grandparents–they have a biological connection to their grandkids, though they may not have any connection with their own birth parents and other relatives. I know grandparents whose grandchildren were placed for adoption, and who no longer have any connection to their grandkids. I know grandparents whose grandchildren are adopted.
Grandparents and adoption–that’s the Substack link, and there’s a lot to talk about.
I’ll be providing ideas, information, and resources. I plan to host online sessions with a variety of grandparents who have a connection with adoption. We will take a look at the nature of loss, love, joy, race, trauma, healing, grief, laughter, and understanding, all in the context of adoption and grandparenting.
Please take a look, and feel free to share. You can subscribe for free; you can donate to the cause. I welcome your thoughts, questions, insights. Thank you!