New Life Adoptions hosts a birth mother event every year to honor the decision birth mothers make to place their child for adoption. Our theme for our Birth Mother Brunch this year is A Mother by A Different Name.

As we prepared for this event, I was struck again by what is in a name, a title. Birth Mother. First Mother. There is a lot of meaning in these titles. We want to honor those mothers who chose sacrifice and love for their child in a way that many cannot fully understand.

Birth Mother. First Mother. There is a lot of meaning in these titles. We want to honor those mothers who chose sacrifice and love for their child in a way that many cannot fully understand.

A Difficult Day for Many

Our society has started to recognize that Mother’s Day can be a difficult day for some people. However, the focus is often on the child missing their mother, rather than the hurting mother herself. It may be a child whose mother has died or someone who has a strained relationship with their mother, but somehow hurting mothers are still forgotten. The lack of recognition for Birth Mothers or First Mothers in Mother’s Day remains. This often comes from a place of not understanding the significant, vital role that a birth mother has in the life of the child she placed for adoption. Without her first choosing to carry the pregnancy and then choosing adoption, her beautiful child would not have the adoptive family they were lovingly placed in. So often this is forgotten.

There is grief and loss in adoption, but there is also beauty, sacrifice and love.

For Birth Mothers

If you are a birth mother, we recognize you as a mother. We acknowledge you this weekend, whether you join us for brunch or not. Be kind to yourself. Use this weekend as a reminder of the brave, loving choice you made for your child.

Be kind to yourself. Use this weekend as a reminder of the brave, loving choice you made for your child.

For Loved Ones

If you know a birth mother, don’t be afraid to recognize her motherhood this weekend, and ask her how she wants to be acknowledged. The fact is, she is still a mother, a Mother by a Different Name.