Families Without Borders: How Open Adoption Rewires Love, Identity & Legacy

In this episode of Voices of Adoption, hosts Donna Pope and Nathan Gwilliam interview Linda Sexton, an adoptive mom who became an open adoption pioneer over 30 years ago when she and her husband were rejected by traditional agencies for being "too old" at 36 and 42.

Building Connection Linda shares how she initially believed open adoption benefited birth parents most, only to discover the real winner is always the child. She reveals the defining moment at her son's birth mother's wedding when 4-year-old Finley ran from the altar into her arms, proving there was room for both mothers in one child's heart. Her children now maintain relationships with biological siblings, with Finley having a full birth brother after his birth parents later married each other.

Practical Wisdom Linda explains why adoptive parents should actively seek connections with birth family members even when birth parents aren't available, emphasizing that children need these relationships for identity development and stability. She addresses common fears about confusion and competition, sharing how mutual respect between families creates magic for everyone involved.

This episode shows how open adoption creates opportunities for children to grow up whole when families approach relationships with flexibility and love.

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