A Vote for Dawn is a Vote for Change
Posted: October 16, 2009 at 12:14 am | Tags: Dawn is Awesome, The BumpWhile my subject line sounds all idealistic and, really, what’s wrong with that, the truth is that Dawn has already changed the adoption world simply by existing and sharing her story. I nominated her for The Bump’s Mommyblogger awards under the Best Adoption Blog category for many reasons.
1. She is an important voice, a realistic voice. Furthermore, she is a voice that shows that change is possible. Her own views changed over time, chronicled in black and white on her blog. She promotes change. She is change.
2. She helped me so much, probably without knowing it, make sense of my own adoption journey. Sure. She’s an adoptive mom. Sure. I’m a birth mom. We should be as different as night and day. But we’re not. She didn’t point fingers. She wasn’t judgmental. She encouraged me. She met me with open arms. She has been an inspiration even when the going was tough, dark and lonely. She accepted my two-liner venting emails about all that was going on and put a positive spin on things. Or vented with me. Or laughed at the audacity of it all. Without her, I don’t know where I’d be. (There are others that have had an equal hand in shaping my journey but, well, Dawn is love. The end.)
3. Dawn is awesome. If she ends up winning the overall contest, in which the prize is $1000, she is donating her winnings to Ethica. I read that and felt warm and fuzzy. Promoting change is as easy as sharing your story, honestly and openly. Promoting change is as easy as helping people learn about themselves by learning about yourself in a public forum. Promoting change doesn’t have to be big and scary. Promoting change starts here and now.
It is my opinion that Dawn’s blog embodies what the adoption blogosphere should be working toward: honestly accepting the challenges that face us and working toward ethical goals. We’ll all make mistakes along the way but we can do it.
If you believe we can do it, go vote for Dawn’s blog, This Woman’s Work, in the Best Adoption Blog contest over at The Bump. Registration is NOT required. As far as we know, you may vote more than once. Do so. Let’s have the winner of this category be the one who has worked the hardest for ethical adoption reform. It only makes sense.
(If you’re unfamiliar with Dawn’s adoption story, you’re not really reading the right blogs. But, even still, she’s paraphrased it all into a handy post for newcomers. Check it out.)
The Discussion
see what everyone is saying
{sniff}
Thanks for YOUR encouragement, Jenna. Thanks for helping me be a better mother to Madison and a better friend to Pennie.
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What an awesome post, Jenna!!! I’m linking to it in a heartbeat. Dawn is an inspiration to everyone who knows her, virtually or in real life. Her blog was one of the first ones I ever read, I started reading back in 2004, before I began to blog. I’ve cried tons and laughed too and it completely changed my perspective on adoption (which is not part of my life, BTW). Not only that, but it introduced me to countless wonderful bloggers and their stories… reading Kateri (whom I know in person ’cause I live in the Philly area) and your blog broke my heart but gave me so much more understanding and compassion.
Anyway, I’m beyond thrilled that you nominated her and I’m voting like crazy!! I can see that her post and yours too, no doubt, are already changing the tide in favor of her in the count. YAY!! Way to go! I’ll vote as many times as I can until the 19th (according to the other near winning blog that’s when voting ends).
Oh, and I LOVE the post title!!!
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[...] writes eloquently on her own blog about why she nominated Dawn and why Dawn deserves to win: Promoting change is as easy as sharing [...]
I’ve given her my vote and hope others will check her out and see why I think she is perfect for this.
Dawn is one of the adoptive moms who I, not only, carry a huge respect for, but who also helped grab me out from the weight of my anger and realize that I couldn’t just judge everyone for their “role” in adoption and had to take the same time and respect I wanted for myself to read and learn from other’s experiences.
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Jenna, you are such an awesome friend to Dawn.
I wish I could say that people in the adoption community were as helpful and unjudgemental of me while I worked my way through difficult adoption issues, but sadly I can’t. I felt, and still do feel excluded and judged. Of course many of my original ideas about adoption have drastically changed over the years, but my ability to connect with that community sadly has not. I am a birthfamily member, adoptive sibling and adoptive mom, yet I have never been able to connect to people from any of those groups sucessfully. It makes for a lonely journey. I am glad people like Dawn have helped you.
I hope Dawn wins the award, she has a great blog. I also hope she continues to learn because there is room in that area for all of us.
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