Birthmothers' Panel
Thursday November 6th
This panel provides a unique opportunity for birth moms to tell adoptive parents what it feels like to be a birthparent.
All Sunrise families who are adopting locally are required to attend. Families attending previous panels have said that it was the singlemost significant component of their preparation to adopt.
If you are interested in being a part of this incredible evening, please contact Lisa.
Birthparent Group
October 6, 2008
This support group is offered by Sunrise free of charge to all birthparents who have placed or are considering placing a child for adoption in British Columbia. The purpose of this group is to provide birthparents with a support network. This group meets in the evening in the Vancouver area.
Please contact Lisa for details.
Birthmother's Day Picnic
Mother's Day, celebrated since the days of Ancient Greece, is observed on the second Sunday of May. Ever since 1990 when it was first celebrated in Seattle, Birthmother's Day has been observed on the Saturday before Mother's Day.
This day is widely recognized throughout the United States and is gaining recognition in Canada.
Since 2004 the Sunrise Birthmothers' Support Group has held a picnic to celebrate Birthmother's Day. The 2007 picnic was held at Waterfront Park in North Vancouver on a gloriously sunny afternoon. Over 150 people attended - birth mothers, adoptive parents, adopted children and adults, as well as their friends and families. In a moving speech to the huge crowd, one of our birthmothers said:
In our birthmother's support group, we don't feel like we've lost our child, but we feel we have gained an extension to our family. We have all chosen some form of an open adoption. We enjoy the time we get to spend with our children, and we also enjoy seeing our child bonded with their Mom and Dad. To watch them grow older and see how they interact with their families fills our hearts with so much love and admiration."
For the full text of the speech click here .
Mark your calendars now for the Sunrise Birthmother's Day Picnic next year: May 10, 2008