Adoptees: Did you watch NBC's "Who Do You Think You Are"?

It made me think of the word 'hypocrisy'

As in one rule for them, and another rule for adoptees (as in 'thou shalt now be interested in your ancesters or genealogy lest you be labelled 'bitter' or 'ungrateful')

I saw people drawn to tears upon hearing about their ancesters, because they felt that connection; yet adoptees are conditioned to believe that we ought not feel anything for anyone 'we've never met' despite being related and connected on the deepest level.

Sigh.

Based on the two episodes that I have seen, I thoroughly enjoy watching the show.

Watching the mixed emotions they go through reminds me of my reunion experience. The tears, uncertainty, hope, shattered hope, surprise, shock, happiness, inner peace, joy, love, sadness, confusion, compassion, easiness, weirdness, enthusiasm, disbelief, fear, depression, stress, pain, frustration, anxiety, vulnerability, emptiness, awe, disappointment are all there.

While I'm fortunate to live in a country that currently has unsealed its records, I feel for my fellow brothers and sisters throughout the world who don't share the same basic right.

I saw the episode with Susan Sarandon. I liked it because I totally love genealogy and family history. But there were pieces that pushed my buttons. Like when she complained about the fact that she only had one picture of her grandmother. I was like "Seriously! You have a picture of your grandmother! You are so lucky...."

Other reactions: Totally got an account on ancestry.com and had a ton of fun putting together family trees. I've actually had difficulties with all of the trees I was working on.

My husband's is hard because his family name got changed when his family went through Ellis Island, so there are about 3 different versions of his last name floating around out there and it is difficult to tell who is related to him and who isn't.

My afamily one is hard on my dad's side because there were multiple generations raised by step-parents, so it becomes difficult deciding which family line to follow. The genetic one or the one they identified with.

My nfamily one is difficult because I personally have less info on them right now. Also, my paternal biological grandmother immigrated when she was 14 and there is nothing available about her before then and my maternal biological grandmother doesn't know who her father was so there is no info there either.

It was actually pretty soothing to experience firsthand the variety of ways family history can get lost. It was no longer something that just I had to deal with :-)

I didn't watch the show, but wanted to comment on what you said abt adoption also effecting the future generations.

Finding my first mom opened up a whole side of my family history, my Cherokee side. My 10 yr old son is so facinated by and feels so connected to that part of his history, that he is growing his hair long (he has beautiful black hair) and has learned to drum and sing in Cherokee.

Adoption steals not only OUR history and geneology but also robs all of our decendants of that knowledge too. The only other ppl I can think of who had their ancestory stolen from them was the African that were stolen and sold into slavery.

I watched the one with Brooke Shields.

She thought her family was from Italy or Italian but it turned out that they were actually French.

She was stunned because she always felt connected to France. She lived there, it was her major in college and she learned to speak French fluently.

She said she never felt a connection with Italy despite thinking she was Italian.

If anyone wishes to watch or Re-watch any of the previously aired episodes: "Who do you think you are ?" on NBC, here is the link.

http://www.nbc.com/who-do-you-think-you-are/video/...

As I have not seen any of the episodes yet, thats what i'm going to do right now !

Thanks LinnyG ! Good LQQKin' Out - Ups !.....................Peace

I just wanted to say being adopted and finding my Natural family has put so much closure in my life and helped me figure out who i really am. i think its so important to know your roots.