Finding Adoption Support in Florida as a Birth Mother During the Holidays

The holiday season can be a particularly difficult time of year for birth mothers who are currently going through the adoption process or for those who’ve already been through it. For birth mothers experiencing emotional or other turmoil during this holiday season, it’s extremely important for you to find a support system to help you get through this difficult time. Whatever it is you need, whether it’s simply someone to talk to or a shoulder to cry on, connecting with your support system is going to play a huge role in the healthy expression of your emotions during this most trying time of year. But what are your support options? Who do you talk to, and where do you go for support? 

Below, Adoption Choices of Florida has listed four support options for you to reach out to if you’re struggling during the holidays this year!       

Support for Birth Mothers during the Holidays — Who and Where?

1. Your Florida Adoption Agency

Your adoption agency is a great place to start if you’re searching for support this holiday season! At their disposal, most adoption agencies have a plethora of emotional support and other counseling resources for you to take advantage of, even during the holidays. Remember, adoption agencies continue to make themselves available for birth mothers after the adoption process as well, not just during it. So, if you’re struggling during this year’s holiday season and aren’t sure where to start for support, reach out to your adoption agency and find out how they can help you!  

2. Spending time with your friends and family after adoption finalization

The holidays are all about spending time with family and friends, right? So, who better to reach out to for support during the holidays than your relatives and close friends? If you’ve got a family member or good friend you trust, give them a call or send them a quick text message. Family and friends are some of the best and biggest supporters you’ll ever have, so they’ll likely be more than happy to spend time helping you express your emotions healthily to get you through this difficult time. Another bonus of reaching out to family and friends is, well, they get to see you and you get to see them! There’s not much better than that during the holidays!    

3. Your Community

Depending upon where you live, your community could be a great resource to you! Searching your community for support might take a little extra effort, but ask your adoption agency if they know of any local support groups you could join to help you get through the holidays. You may also be able to do a little research on your own to find support resources within your community, outside of your adoption agency. It’s always good to keep your options open, and there’s nothing like a tight-knit community to get you through even the most difficult of times! 

4. Your Child and Their Adoptive Family

This option might not be accessible to every birth mother, but if you opted for an open or semi-open adoption and are in contact with your child and their adoptive family, try reaching out! Open and semi-open adoption are much more common than in past years, which means that most adoptive families are more than willing to open up their homes and hearts to their child’s birth mother. 

Additionally, most adoptees absolutely love spending time with their birth mothers. Not only does it give them the chance to get to know you better, but clearing the air with your child about their adoption might help you to better understand your emotions and alleviate any feelings of guilt, shame, or embarrassment you may still be experiencing. 

When in Doubt, Talk to Your Adoption Agency!

Not every birth mother has a solid relationship with her family and friends, lives in a great community, nor is in contact with her child and their adoptive family. This, of course, makes it a lot more difficult for her to find support options during the holidays. So, when in doubt, Adoption Choices of Florida recommends reaching back out to your adoption agency for guidance! Adoption agencies are designed to help birth mothers, not just during the adoption process but after it, too. Why? Because your adoption journey never really ends. 

Remember, your feelings about adoption don’t just go away once your child’s adoption has been finalized. Often, those feelings get stronger and more difficult to cope with during the holiday season, the time of year when people most enjoy seeing and spending time with the ones they love. You may love your child very much but are unable to spend the holidays with them. To help you get through these difficult times, it’s important for you to always have someone to fall back on. Your adoption agency isn’t quite the same as a family member or a trusted friend, but at Adoption Choices of Florida, we’ll do everything in our power to help you understand your feelings and get through this upcoming holiday season. 

If you are a pregnant woman in Florida considering adoption and have any questions or concerns about the adoption process, please don’t hesitate to reach out. For more information on adoption, visit us at Adoption Choices of Florida or call or text us at: (833) 352-3678.