There are many reasons to love Lori Lavender Luz, otherwise known as Lori Holden. She is a blogger, the author of The Open-Hearted Way to Open Adoption: Helping Your Child Grow Up Whole, the host of Adopting.com's podcast, Adoption: The Long View. She is also empathetic, kind, constantly looking to learn and grow and help others to learn and grow, and an amazing friend. I could literally listen to her voice until the end of time -- so soothing! Like an auditory hug!
I am so excited to say that I was a guest on Adoption: The Long View's Episode #306, now available wherever you get your podcasts (and in the link above).
WHAT? You may ask yourself... But you didn't ACTUALLY ADOPT! Why on earth are YOU on a podcast about ADOPTIVE PARENTING????
Well, let me tell you! This episode is titled: "What if Adopting Doesn't Work Out?: Exploring the Uncharted Exit Ramp of Adoption."
Yes, that's right -- someone who writes and talks about adoptive parenting, who is a parent of two through domestic infant adoption, who is sponsored by ADOPTING.COM, wanted to do an episode about NOT adopting. Whether it was deciding that was not an option to pursue like her other guest, Greg, or going through the process and eventually stepping away (albeit after the proverbial beaten horse was nothing but a puddle of bloody pulp) as we did, Lori wanted to give the perspective of resolving without parenting through the lens of pronatalism AND the fact that there are on average approximately 40 waiting, hopeful adoptive parents for every ONE infant that is being placed.
I am so grateful to Lori, and I think you will also want her to be your very good friend after listening to her podcast.
If you are a parent through adoption, please check out her entire podcast -- she features guests who are adoptees, birth parents, adoptive parents, adoption therapists, authors, advocates, and more -- and really does a bang-up job with presenting and validating many viewpoints, with the endgame of providing parents (and prospective parents) through adoption with resources to help in the long view of adoption, the marriage and not just the wedding, to quote her. If you aren't connected to adoption but want to know why you should NEVER say "Just adopt!" as if it is easy and simple, give it a listen.
I am so honored to be a part of Lori's podcasting genius! It is so strange to hear myself talking, but I am proud of the message and the storytelling I offer in this episode, and of the message and storytelling that Greg offers from a different perspective, and the masterful facilitation of the conversation led by Lori. Thank you, Lori, for the opportunity to share a lesser-heard perspective, for empathy, solidarity, and support.
Go forth and listen!
 |
| Image from adopting.com |
Good for you, and I'm sure it will be helpful to people. It seems a long time ago now, but when we were anticipating fertility procedures and their unknown consequences, I read and listened to many accounts, including those that didn't end with a baby and happiness all around. It was important to look at the whole picture of what we were getting into. This is an important step for people seeking to adopt too, I would assume.
ReplyDeleteWooHoo! Congratulations! I look forward to listening.
ReplyDeleteIt's SOOOOO GOOOOOOOD! You are amazing, Jess, both in the way you decided and proceeded with your own situation and all the great insight you have to share here. I am so honored to have created this important episode with you and Greg.
ReplyDelete