Adoption Apology Scotland

Stop forced adoption, adoption is life long trauma to both mother and child

Listening to Nicola Sturgeon make the Adoption Apology to all the Scottish mothers of loss to adoption made me wonder how many adoptees are totally unaware of their first mother's story. How many did not know that their mother's were forced in to giving them up for adoption. I wonder if hearing the words of the apology has made any adoptees feel differently about their first mother.

I was told recently, in no uncertain terms (again) by my daughter's partner that she is happy in her life without me and she has her mum and dad in her life. I wonder if his view has changed since hearing the words of the adoption apology, about how we were coerced, not given any other options and ultimately forced into giving our babies away. We can't be making it up to 'play the victim' now can we?

The Adoption Act was updated in 1976, which is why the apology highlights adoptions through the 50s, 60s and 70s. Forced adoptions continued in to the 80s although mother and baby homes had been pruned back, there were still organisations in business to coerce and force vulnerable pregnant women to give their babies up for adoption. As society moved on and being unmarried, young and pregnant became less taboo, the number of adoptions of newborns in the UK fell as mothers were given more options and help to look after their baby.

The Chrildrens Act of 1989 then superseded the Adoption Act of 1976 and the new realm of forced adoption was born. Children could be taken in to care and ultimately be put up for adoption based on the possibility of future emotional harm or the crystal ball method as it is commonly known in the first mother community. This also includes any future babies, taken at birth. If you speak with these mothers you will find that the system and the Family Courts are set up for them to fail.

The Family Courts have up until now been closed, no reporters or journalists have been allowed to report on cases as they can with other courts. Cardiff, Leeds and Carlisle Family Court are now part of a pilot where journalists and legal bloggers will be allowed to report on cases. I hope that this will throw light on modern day forced adoptions and bring a wider understanding of how forced adoption is allowed to happen today.

The harm caused to first mothers and adoptees is the same today as it was for the mother's of the adoption apology. It is life long trauma.