Legality aside, do you think that Tia should have had any right to claim custody of Honor/Savannah? Does Juliette have a right to know Savannah?
Created: 04/27/13
Replies: 15
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Posts: 0
Join Date: 09/14/11
Posts: 12
Absolutely not. While it is a huge decision to give your child up for adoption, you have severed your rights to that child. If when the child makes the decision to pursue his biological parents that is a different story.
Join Date: 04/28/11
Posts: 71
Speaking as an adoptive mother... Our adoption was an open one (which was apparently the situation here because Caroline was sending pictures) and the biological mother in our situation was supposed to be able to see him, I discovered early on that she would not be a good influence on him and pretty much severed ties. I posted his picture in the local paper each year so she could see him grow that way. If she had tried to claim custody of my son, I would have fought it tooth and nail because of the type of person she was. If she had been a really good person, then perhaps I would have agreed to more sharing, but never giving up my custody. As it turned out, he met her when he was 18. He has a very strained relationship with her and we have come to the conclusion that I was right to sever ties when I did and he is glad that it worked out that way.
Join Date: 08/11/11
Posts: 29
I cannot generalize...it would depend on the people involved. my daughter adopted a son from Guatemala and has the picture of his mother. but that is it. if indeed the mother wanted further contact i imagine my daughter might allow it.. but then circumstances and individual characteristics would male all the difference.
Join Date: 04/10/13
Posts: 78
I do not believe that Tia should have had any right to claim custody of Savannah, especially after that period of time. I cannot think of anything more heartwrenching for a child of five than to be taken from the parents who have loved and raised her and returned to a mother she did not know, regardless of how much the biological mother may have loved her. I can't imagine that in a open adoption too much contact with the biological mother would be a good thing. My mother divorced when I was an infant and later married a man who adopted me. Every time I was angry with either parent I longed to run away and live with my real father who I just knew loved me and would be good to me. It wasn't until much later that I learned what a worthless individual he really was. I think too much contact with the biological parents would be very confusing. When the child is older, he/she should have the option to pursue whatever relationship he wishes.
Join Date: 12/17/12
Posts: 206
No, Tia gave up rights to Savannah because she couldn't bear to be reminded of Nathan. She needs to think of what is best for her daughter. I don't see how it could ever be good to take a child away from a loving family, even if that family isn't perfect. An uprooted child would spend the rest of her life fearing that she could lose every thing she loved on someone else's whim.
Join Date: 03/15/13
Posts: 36
No, especially after so much time had passed. The emotional havoc that would result could only end up hurting Savannah. However, I think there would be less harm in having occasional contact with Honor./Savannah and handled properly, could work. I was not a big fan of Tia throughout the story, but applaud her efforts at the end to give up the pursuit of custody and move on with her life.
Join Date: 12/04/12
Posts: 5
No, I don't. Tia legally gave up her rights at Savannah's birth, and for years, Savannah has been living with her adoptive family. You can't expect to a child to just give up the only parents she's known for a mom she never knew.
Join Date: 06/01/11
Posts: 54
Join Date: 04/15/11
Posts: 89
No, not really. She certainly had the right to knowledge about her, but having once given up the child for adoption, she has no right to come back and expect or demand a mother's role. It is enough that the child knows she exists and the reason for her abandonment.
Join Date: 04/08/13
Posts: 41
Definitely not!! Tia gave up those rights long ago. Also she would not be a good candidate for motherhood at this stage -- pity poor Savannah if she should be saddled with such an immature and self-serving person!!
Join Date: 07/28/11
Posts: 96
No - not at all! That would have been bad for everyone involved - even Tia, but especially Savannah! Tia knew that it would be devastating to give her daughter up - and it was - but I think it was the best thing for Savannah.
Join Date: 09/14/11
Posts: 14
I don't like it when a birth parent tries to reclaim a child, especially once that child is old enough to be attached to its adoptive family. Believe me, when I say my heart goes out to women who have given their children up to adoption, but I feel (as others seem to) they should wait till the child is 18 to make contact.
I'm not sure how I feel about Juliette getting to know Honor/Savannah. It seemed sort of weird to me. I think, in the same circumstances, I would have kicked Nathan out of my life and gone on with it; but everyone is different.
Join Date: 09/04/11
Posts: 7
Join Date: 04/15/11
Posts: 39
Join Date: 12/26/11
Posts: 17
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