Roots and Branches Ep 36: Open Adoption

In this emotional and deeply complex episode of Roots and Branches Adoption Stories, Janet Munro speaks with Susan Skalicky, a birth mother whose story is still unfolding.Raised in a strict Christian environment with strong beliefs surrounding family and motherhood, Susan became pregnant at 27 after her first serious relationship. Feeling overwhelmed, unsupported, and believing adoption was her only option, she placed her daughter in what was promised to be an open adoption through her church.Years later, Susan became pregnant again. While hospitalized during a high-risk pregnancy, the same adoptive family suggested adopting her second daughter so the sisters could grow up together. Susan agreed, believing she was creating a stronger future for both girls and hoping the relationship between the families would heal and grow.Today, Susan says she has no contact with either child.In this raw and candid conversation, Susan shares the emotional realities she says many birth mothers face after adoption: grief, isolation, pressure, unanswered questions, and the fear of losing connection forever. She speaks openly about the role of religion, adoption agencies, legal agreements, hospital pressure, and what she believes are major flaws in the open adoption system.Susan is now preparing for a court case in British Columbia and has launched what she calls the “ADD-Options” movement, advocating for stronger protections and legally enforceable agreements for birth parents involved in open adoptions.As always, Janet reminds listeners there are multiple perspectives to every story. This episode is not about assigning blame—it is about understanding the emotional, legal, and lifelong impact adoption can have on everyone involved.This is a difficult conversation.But it is one worth having.