Adoption, Identity, and the Search for Who We Really Are with Simon Benn

Simon Benn spent most of his life believing he had a “good” adoption story. Raised in a loving home, he didn’t carry the obvious wounds many adoptees describe. But at 40 years old, a simple revelation that a childhood teddy bear came from his birth mother shook something deep inside him. What followed was a painful question many adoptees quietly carry: If she loved me… why didn’t she keep me?Years later, reading his birth mother’s letter would completely transform that belief. In this powerful conversation, Simon shares how that moment helped him move from feelings of rejection to a profound sense of connection and love. His journey reveals that identity isn’t just about where we come from it’s about how we interpret our story, and whether we allow it to define or free us.This episode goes beyond adoption labels and digs into something universal: the human search for meaning, belonging, and truth. Simon also shares insights from interviewing hundreds across the adoption constellation and introduces his THRIVE framework offering a new way to think about trauma, healing, and growth. His message is clear: healing doesn’t come from staying stuck in the past—it comes from expanding who we become.What You’ll Learn:How a childhood object unlocked hidden adoptee griefWhy feelings of abandonment can shift into understanding and loveThe balance between exploring your past and not getting stuck in itHow understanding the “why” can strengthen parenting and relationshipsThe THRIVE framework: Trauma, Healing, Resilience, Identity, Vision, EmpowermentWhy healing requires growth not just timeA powerful mindset shift for adoptive parents: it’s not about fixing your childJoin the Parenting Different newsletter here: https://www.parentingdifferent.com/freeSubscribe for more episodes on adoption, trauma, identity, and parenting with truth and care.