Thank you to those that have been messaging me privately with your collateral damage stories.
Today’s discussion topic relates to extended family members and your relationship with them. You can still submit your thoughts on previous topics – Siblings and Spouses/Significant Others. Comment on those posts or email me at bluestokking at gmail dot com
Extended Family
Some thoughts and questions for consideration:
Pre Surrender Counseling – Did you receive any pre surrender counseling that involved how to talk to your siblings or extended family about your experience? Did they tell you to keep it to yourself?
Your Siblings – How was your relationship with your own siblings post surrender? Did you discuss your child, their niece or nephew, that had been removed from the family? Or did you pretend nothing had happened?
Your Parents – How was your relationship with your parents both post surrender and pre/post reunion? If in reunion, how did your parents handle your child being brought back into the family? Do you feel you have an authentic relationship with your parents? Do you discuss your child or is your experience the family secret?
Parented Children Adopting – Have your parented children, aware of your experience, chosen adoption for themselves as a family building option? How did you handle that? How is your relatinship with your adopted grandchild?