American Adoption Congress Conference

Great conference

I am still trying to process the huge amount of information I tried to absorb at The 31st Annual American Adoption Congress Conference held at the Sheraton Grand in Sacramento, California, March 18 through 21.

A bit about the trip: Joy Miller, an adoptee and a friend, Adoption Experience Workshop, and I flew from El Paso, Texas to Phoenix, Arizona and from Phoenix to Sacramento. It was a nice trip with the right amount of waiting time to not feel rushed or bored. We were able to walk out of the terminal and take public transportation (bus) to within one block of the hotel ($2 and $1 senior). The Sheraton Grand is beautiful and our room was on the 23rd floor. The meeting rooms were convenient, comfortable, and cold (but I am always cold!). The light breakfast and snacks were just right for me. Everyone was very nice and considerate. Joy and I strolled out to get a sandwich before evening sessions. We did not have the housekeepers clean our room and were given two $5 gift certificates that we used in the restaurant before we left. We walked a couple of blocks to the bus stop in front of the State Capitol Building for the few minutes until the bus arrived to take us to the Airport. This was an excellent choice for the conference.

A bit about the Conference: The American Adoption Congress (AAC) is an all-volunteer organization. They came from several different states and were able to work smoothly together and put on a great conference. Since the conference was about adoption, it should not have surprised me that nearly everyone there was part of the adoption triad---adoptee, birth mother, and adoptive parent. Many were various combinations of the triad and many were also professionals. At least two speakers and three attendees were not part of the triad, which includes me. I was told 160 people attended. I want to thank Joy and my sister, Alta, for making it possible for me to attend.

The 2011 AAC conference will be held in Orlando, Florida April 14 through April 17. For those interested in any phase of adoption, this is a good conference. For professionals that need Continuing Education Units (CEUs), check with your organization (not sure of correct term).

I want to keep these posts short since everyone is busy. Check out both Joy’s blog and the AAC web site.

Until next time,
Alice

Really Looking at Adoption

Really Looking at Adoption

“We once thought adoption was the answer to everyone’s dilemma. The mother could get on with her life. The baby would have a wonderful home. The new parents would have a child of their own. Now, we know this has never been true. Everyone involved was suffering and unable to voice the pain.”

This is the quote on the front of my book, “The Adoption Triad Asks: Who am I really?” published 2009 by Porch Light Press and available at Amazon.

Until next time,
Alice

Fatal Drug Overdose or Suicide

This last couple of weeks has brought people to my door to discuss whether their loved one died of an accidental overdose or suicide. Neither possibility brought closure, but talking about it may have put the subject to rest for them. These deaths happened between two and twenty years ago. Many still wondered what they should have done to keep it from happening.

My answer: In the case of suicide, probably nothing. In the case of accidental overdose, probably nothing.

Intended death usually leaves a note or tells someone. If a person really wants to end their pain by suicide, they will find a way. Drug overdoses, without a note, are probably accidental.

Only one of the 13 deaths (Did it have to be 13?) I was told about left a note. He went into the forest several miles away, built a little campfire, and died from an overdose of pills and needle substance. It was two days before someone found him. All 13 were over the age of 21, one was 56.

The next posting will talk about adoption and what we really do not know about it.

Until next time,
Alice