Beyond Telling: A Phenomenology of Adoptive Mothers’ Adoption Communication Openness with Early Adolescents

Adoption communication openness (ACO) presents a common challenge in families. Three focus groups comprised of a total of 17 U.S. adoptive mothers were facilitated. Using a phenomenological approach, participants described their ACO experiences with their early adolescents (aged 10–14 years), which were thematically coded. Inductive analysis revealed the complexity rooted in being communicatively open. Four key themes emerged: a) the breadth and depth of this experience, b) the work entailed, c) the emotionality involved, and d) the grief and loss embedded in it. These results strengthen our understanding of the lived experiences of adoptive parents, magnifying the call for further research into what drives ACO and the need for consistent pre- and post-adoption services and clinical work.