This Morning interview

[Ezel]

Rick and I were interviewed on This Morning in April 2009 after an article appeared in the Darly Mirror.  It was nerve wracking but we had a great time as well. 

This Morning - Reunited with Adopted Son (Part 1 of 2)

This Morning - Reunited with Adopted Son (Part 2 of 2)

[Zaf]

Cant get it to run on the ipad, will have to look when I get on the proper PC

[KateG]

Pip, I think you and Rick were both very brave to share your story like this &*(

[Ezel]

Thank you

[Sweetpea]

I have watched it a while ago, I too think you were very brave.  It was nice to see what you both look like to, its hard to imagine what people you talk to hear look like.

S x x x x

[whiteadder]

Wow Pip, that was so brave of you.

My dad was adopted and I helped him find his birth mother back in the 80s. We traced her back to Canada where he had been born. It wasn't easy for him but it was good that he managed to get a relationship with his mum before she died. He'll never know who his father was though and I think the whole adoption thing will always be a big part of his personality, not just as part of his set of depression-related issues but also as one of the things that makes him a kind and sensitive man.

x

[Ezel]

Yes, for adoptees, it is part of their lives that they can't escape.  I have three internationally adopted cousins - we are second cousins - and to add to this they were raised in a white community.  Two are black African twins and the other originates from Malaysia. They have said that they feel they don't quite fit in the white community because of the colour of their skins nor quite fit in with their cultures because of the community they were raised in.  I'm glad your father got to know his mother though before she died. 

My son being adopted destroyed my relationship with my family as I should have been supported in my choice to be a mother.  It took me a long time to forgive my mum in particular nor did our relationship ever properly get back on track.  My mum dying last year got my sister and I talking.  We stopped all communication in 1999 as she overstopped the mark about telling lies about me as this time she included Rick.  She had accused us of fraud without any proof so in the end she just made herself look stupid.  I didn't have any communication with my parents either until late 2001 as they took her side but they eventually told me that they knew she was in the wrong.  Since mymum died my relationship with my dad has been much better.  Having gone through what I did it destroyed future relationships as I was too scared to get close to anybody so I put a front.

The journalist who did the 3 articles back in 2009 has been in touch as she would like to do a 'catch up' article.  The Daily Mail is going to publish it and will be taking photographs on Wednesday. 

[whiteadder]

I hope you share the articles online :)

[Ezel]

One was in Pick Me Up and and another was in Bella so neither of them are on line.  This one I have posted on a couple of adoption forums http://www.mirror.co.uk/life-style/real-life/2009/04/07/my-adopted-son-came-home-after-23-years-and-nearly-ended-my-marriage-115875-21261706/   .  The next one I will share once it's been published.  

The only time I get irritated though when I see articles or interviews on tv is when I see / hear the term  birth mother / father / parents.  The first time I had the term was in 2004 when I joined up with a few adoption forums and groups.  It originated in America and I have heard two versions of why natural families got labelled.  One is that a group of mothers decided to use the term to differentiate them from adoptive mothers.  The other that social workers started using the term to make adoptive parents to stop making them feeling second best and to belittle mothers.  This article explains it better how I feel about the term http://www.exiledmothers.com/adoption_facts/Why_Birthmother_Means_Breeder.html and is written by an American.  I was quite shocked when talking to my son's adoptive mother on one occasion as she referred to me as his natural mother.  It's the only time I have heard an adoptive parent use the term.

[Micky]

I've read a little of your story. It must have been horrendous for you. So many women in the past have been through this hell of having their children taken off them for being unmarried or too young. Just to say I have an adopted sister, from Sri Lankha. She's awesome and as soon as we all saw her we fell in love with her. She's 21 now and full of life and joy. I'm quite jealous of her positivity and lust for life. I'm sure her mum still thinks of her now but we don't know who she is so could never contact her and let her know how well my sister is doing.

[Pip]

Anybody wanting to post videos and them showing highlight the link and click on the icon with the black cicle with the arrow on it.

[Catbrian]

Have just watched your interview Pip.  You and Rick were very brave.

[Pip]

Thank you  =+-