The words we use when communicating have value. They not only convey fact, but they evoke feeling. Using positive adoption language helps to dispel adoption myths, emphasize the importance of family and reflect the true nature of adoption. By using accurate adoption language we help educate others and diminish the misconceptions of adoption.
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Terms to avoid:
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Positive Adoption Language:
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Real parent/mother/father
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Birth parent/mother/father,
(even more recently, the term “first mother” has grown in usage) |
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Natural parent/mother/father
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Biological parent/mother/father
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Adoptive parent/father/mother
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Parent, mother, father, mommy, daddy
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Adopted child (vs. own child)
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My child/son/daughter
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Prior to the birth of the child using the term Birth Mother
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Woman considering Placing her child for adoption
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Abandoned child, unwanted child
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Child placed for adoption
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Foreign adoption
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International Adoption
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Give up for adoption, put up for adoption, give away, adopted out, abandoned
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Make an adoption plan, choose adoption, place child for adoption, terminate parental rights
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To keep her child
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To parent her child
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Is adopted
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Was adopted
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If you want to learn more about JFS Adoption Services, contact Teresa Birchett at 804-282-5644 ext. 223 or tbirchett@jfsrichmond.org.
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