Biology: According to science, we all inherit something from our natural families. If you are in reunion, are there any traits or characteristics you know you inherited? How does that make you feel? If you are not in reunion, what do you hope to share with your natural family? How important is genetics to you personally?
When I got the first letter from Iris, my birth mother, that contained photos, I was so very excited. Would I finally look at a picture of someone else and see my eyes, my nose, any bits of me? I was disappointed that I did not see any of myself in either Iris or my older half sister Madelaine. Iris later commented on pictures of me that I sent her that I looked more like my father than like her. However, I don't have any pictures of him, so I'll never be able to see myself reflected in someone else.
I don't think that genetics is all that important to me. Sure I would love to have my medical genetic history, but after 40+ years of not being able to answer doctor's questions, I've gotten used to not having it. Many adoptees talk about their longing and connection to having their own children, to finally having someone that they are genetically related too in their lives. I have never felt that need, which is probably obvious from the fact that I became a mother through adoption.
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