In Her Mothers' Shoes

by Felicity Price

  Adoption was my birth mother’s only option at the time and there is no doubt that her choice, while bringing her years of regret, gave me a very privileged life. Adoption has a lot going for it.

  But under the old adoption law, the decree for absolute secrecy undeniably caused both of my mothers and me – and everyone involved in the closed adoption triangle – an inexcusable amount of grief. Its amendment in 1986 to allow adoption records to be opened has at last brought these dark family secrets into the light - with varying degrees of resolution.

  I would also like to thank my IIML tutor Damien Wilkins and all my classmates, without whom this book would not have been possible.