Sunshine The Movie

www.sunshinethemovie.com

I had the opportunity to watch a documentary film called Sunshine. I was very moved by this documentary. This movie shows first hand how the world of adoption is growing and changing. Check it out!

In 1975 an unwed pregnant girl enters a home for unwed mothers to hide her pregnancy and give her baby up for adoption. Feeling that was just what you were to do in 1975 we see now years later how the daughter she gave up for adoption repeats history by herself becoming an unwed mother. But instead of hiding away in nunnery, she has the option of keeping her baby, and rather than being an unwed mother, she’s now referred to as a single mother. Along with that we see how now she is able to expand the traditional definition of family to include her birth mother and her extended family.

As part of CAF’s mission to advocate and educate to the world our love for children and adoption it’s so vital to hear stories like this. Here we see where a child is reunited with her birthmother. They are able to bond and develop a relationship. While we also see how two woman become mothers together in their own roles. One as the mom who raised the child, who feels all ownership to that child regardless of their genetic ties. Then we have one who is gracious to have been given the opportunity to know the baby she gave up at birth is ok and that the decision she made for her was a good one.

This story has so many positive points- a birthmother knew she couldn’t give her baby the life she wanted her to have at that time in her life so she chose another path for her but one that involved life. That birthmother then goes on to lead her life. She’s ok. You can give a baby up for adoption and that is ok. Then we see how a birth mom and her child can be reunited and it can be a healthy loving relationship. But we also see how single moms and single dads can make it too! Most importantly though, we see how a child who is adopted is ok. She’s healthy, she’s adjusted, she’s productive, she’s ok. Her adoptive family is a family. They love their daughter and she loves them. Adoption works!!

All too often we hear “ I don’t know if I could love a child that isn’t mine”. Or “What if they have problems?” or “what if the birthparents come around.” And to that I respond “she is mine.” The more we can make the world understand that genetics doesn’t make something yours the more we can end the suffering of children who are without the love of a family. And to “problems” I respond and if you have a child of your own birth they will be perfect? They will have no problems?? All children have “problems” that’s what makes us human beings! And if the birth mom comes around, well we’ll deal with that just like we deal with other family members!

Life is what we make of it. Go into it with a negative attitude waiting for negative things to happen and they will. Go into it with faith and a positive attitude knowing you can change the world and make it a better place and you will make it a better place, one adoptive child at a time!!