Love, Loss, and Adoption as a Birth Mother with Janelle Basham (Part 2)

In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Janelle Basham and host Anna move deeper into what adoption looks like over time when children grow up, technology changes everything, and honesty can no longer be delayed. Together, they explore open adoption, boundaries, and the importance of centering the child even when relationships are complicated, messy, or painful.Janelle shares why adoption is built on loss for everyone involved, birth parents, adoptees, and adoptive parents alike and why that loss doesn’t need to be fixed to be lived with well. This episode unpacks the dangers of secrecy, the harm of fear-based decisions, and the lifelong consequences when children are denied truth, medical history, or access to their own stories. With compassion and clarity, Janelle challenges adoptive parents to choose courage over control and connection over comfort.This conversation is an invitation to do adoption differently through honesty, humility, community, and a willingness to sit with the hard things for the sake of the child.What You’ll LearnWhy adoption is built on loss for birth parents, adoptees, and adoptive parentsHow open adoption can evolve and why boundaries still matterThe harm caused by secrecy, fear, and delayed truthWhy children deserve honest, age-appropriate informationHow technology and DNA have permanently changed adoptionWhy adopted children cannot be responsible for healing adult woundsWhat it looks like to center the child, even when it’s uncomfortable👉 Join the Parenting Different newsletter here:https://www.parentingdifferent.com/freeSubscribe for more episodes on adoption, trauma, identity, and parenting with truth and care.