Adoption Diaries

What happened in the 1990s when a Black birth grandmother fought in court with a white lesbian couple for custody of a Black boy in foster care.

Genetics

Should Adoptive Parents Write About Their Adoptees?

E. Kay Trimberger Ph.D. on August 23, 2020

My son was pleased that I wrote a book with him at the center. But not all adult adoptees, nor adult offspring, would feel the same way.

My son was pleased that I wrote a book with him at the center. But not all adult adoptees, nor adult offspring, would feel the same way.

Genetics

What Behavioral Genetics Teaches Us About Adoption

E. Kay Trimberger Ph.D. on August 2, 2020

Adoptive (and biological) parents often wonder why their children grow up to be so different than themselves and each other. Behavioral genetics offers some clues.

Adoptive (and biological) parents often wonder why their children grow up to be so different than themselves and each other. Behavioral genetics offers some clues.

Addiction

Untangling Nature and Nurture: The Addiction

E. Kay Trimberger Ph.D. on May 4, 2020

In the second part of Untangling Nature and Nurture, Marc Trimberger talks about his addiction.

In the second part of Untangling Nature and Nurture, Marc Trimberger talks about his addiction.

Environment

Untangling Nature and Nurture

E. Kay Trimberger Ph.D. on April 18, 2020

The Creole son on growing up mixed-race.

The Creole son on growing up mixed-race.

Adoption

Adoptee Memoir Offers Hope and a Chance at Deepening Ties

E. Kay Trimberger Ph.D. on December 7, 2019

Sara Easterly discusses her memoir, which traces her complex relationship with her adoptive mother.

Sara Easterly discusses her memoir, which traces her complex relationship with her adoptive mother.

A recent memoir and an academic study tell us about reunions with sperm donors and donor siblings. I explore how these experiences are similar and different from adoption reunions

Adoption

"Instant Family": A Film about Fostering and Adoption

E. Kay Trimberger Ph.D. on November 28, 2018

Although it presents some truths about the difficulties parents face when fostering and adopting older children, the film also perpetuates myths.

Although it presents some truths about the difficulties parents face when fostering and adopting older children, the film also perpetuates myths.

Adoption

Adult Adoptee Voices Are Changing Adoption Narrative

E. Kay Trimberger Ph.D. on November 19, 2018

A documentary filmmaker profiles 100 Korean adult adoptees from around the world. See what they say about their diverse experiences of adoption.

A documentary filmmaker profiles 100 Korean adult adoptees from around the world. See what they say about their diverse experiences of adoption.

The documentary "Three Identical Strangers" exposes an unethical adoption study, but it does not tell us about other such studies that are ethical.

Adoption

Separating Children of Immigrants and Unethical Adoptions

E. Kay Trimberger Ph.D. on July 18, 2018

The practice of separating children from parents at the border mirrors past forced and unethical adoption. How can we prevent a repeat?

The practice of separating children from parents at the border mirrors past forced and unethical adoption. How can we prevent a repeat?

Is it progressive for the film 'Ladybird' to focus on a family involving adoption and never to mention or discuss it?

Comparing the film Lion with the memoir on which it is based, provides insights into how the relationships between adoptive and birth families can extend our ideas of family.

Most of us have only one mother, but adult adoptees often have two. When adoptions are open, or after a reunion, either the adoptive or the birth mother may feel excluded on Mother’s Day.

Adoption

Adoption in the Life of Steve Jobs

E. Kay Trimberger Ph.D. on March 30, 2015

Steve Jobs' adoption provided an environment that helped him become the co-founder and major influence of Apple Computers, but his genetic inheritance was also crucial.

Steve Jobs' adoption provided an environment that helped him become the co-founder and major influence of Apple Computers, but his genetic inheritance was also crucial.

An adult adoptee from India seeks funding for a documentary film about a search for her cultural roots.

Main stream TV has created a show that documents both the difficulties and rewards of an open adoption system and the complicated adult relationships it spawns.

A memoir explores the biological and environmental components of addiction and the difficulties in crossing race and class boundaries.

Rather than being threatened by an adult adopted son’s or daughter’s desire for reunion, adoptive parents should welcome it as a way to strengthen their family bond and to open up the possibility of a more extended family linking adoptive and biological relatives.

If the adoption had been open, both he and I could have had a biological and an adopted family, different for each of us, but bringing a symmetry into our family life.