While 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.)