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What age were you adopted at?

  • 12-05-2011 10:29am
    #1
    Moonbeam
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 18,968 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    I was wondering where the 1st 3 months of my life went.
    I wasn't given to my parents until I was 3 months old and they got me from think it was Haddington road (I forget but it was around there).
    I was adopted through St Patricks guild and Sr Gabriel.
    Other people were adopted at a few days old so I am wondering does anyone have any idea why I would have been 3 months old?
    I really need to start an official search.
    Why am I wondering this now? My 2nd daughter is now 3 months old and I could not imagine her with out a mammy to love her and mind her.


«1

Comments

  • #2
    January
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23,862 ✭✭✭✭January


    Not adopted but my partner was adopted at 6 weeks by an agency in Marlborough Street... He was in St Patricks Guild until then...


  • #3
    Moonbeam
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 18,968 Mod ✭✭✭✭Moonbeam


    My parents got a call went in and were handed me after what my aunty calls the longest pregnancy ever;)
    They had no idea they wee getting me that day, my granny went to my aunts house got a load of stuff then came to visit us,and my parents had to stop in the shop on the way home.


  • #4
    tyview
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 210 ✭✭tyview


    I was adopted at 6 weeks old. I know I went from the hospital at 5 days old to temple hill and then back to the agency to be handed over then. This was in the early 80's. My sister was also adopted at 6 weeks old.

    I've often though about what it must have been like as a baby for them first 6 weeks.


  • #5
    kathy finn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 324 ✭✭kathy finn


    i was adopted at nearly 3 months too, i was in the sacred heart mother and baby home bessbrough cork and my birthmum looked after me their till she brought me to dublin to be handed over to my adoptive parents. kathy


  • #6
    flipall
    Registered Users Posts: 159 ✭✭flipall


    The date of adoption on my birth cert is ten months after my dob, i recently met a social worker who just told me "oh you would have been in a home", i dont know which one or if i want to know!!


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  • #7
    Ms Marple
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6 ✭Ms Marple


    I was adopted at 10 weeks old (mid-70s, mid-west). Moved from the hospital to a foster home, but the lady there fell ill, so moved to a second foster home. That family were going abroad, so to avoid placing me with a third family the agency called my parents out of the blue and asked them to collect me the following day! They had nothing bought, my Dad dashed out to get a cot :). My BM had already signed all the paperwork, so was it the agency's own paperwork that caused the delay? Everytime I meet a 2 1/2 month old baby it reminds me of how aware they are of different people and their surroundings. Good thing we don't remember that time!


  • #8
    TylerIE
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,635 ✭✭✭TylerIE


    Moonbeam wrote: »
    I was wondering where the 1st 3 months of my life went.
    I wasn't given to my parents until I was 3 months old and they got me from think it was Haddington road (I forget but it was around there).
    I was adopted through St Patricks guild and Sr Gabriel.
    Other people were adopted at a few days old so I am wondering does anyone have any idea why I would have been 3 months old?
    I really need to start an official search.
    Why am I wondering this now? My 2nd daughter is now 3 months old and I could not imagine her with out a mammy to love her and mind her.

    Aww... I was in a foster home for almost three months. My adoptive parents met the foster parents and said they were great.

    I understand the delay was just administrative (paperwork etc) so presume it could have been the same for you....


  • #9
    emma11811
    Registered Users Posts: 21 ✭emma11811


    I was 14 months old when i was adopted i often wonder why ther were no bady photos of me as i was told i was three days old when adopited,it was only when i went to find information i was told the truth


  • #10
    kathy finn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 324 ✭✭kathy finn


    hi, i was given to my adopted parents at 3 months but my birthmother never signed the final consent papers till i was 8 months old and my adoption was made legal when i was 10 months old.
    so even though we where living with our adoptive parents.our adoptions would not have gone through till months if not years later...kathy


  • #11
    Moonbeam
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 18,968 Mod ✭✭✭✭Moonbeam


    I think I was around 2 when the adoption finally went through.


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  • #12
    liliq
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,242 ✭✭✭liliq


    flipall wrote: »
    The date of adoption on my birth cert is ten months after my dob, i recently met a social worker who just told me "oh you would have been in a home", i dont know which one or if i want to know!!
    Moonbeam wrote: »
    I think I was around 2 when the adoption finally went through.

    I was 6 days old I think, and that was in the mid-80's, but the official date of adoption I have is when I was around 6 months old... I think that was when the adoption papers were actually signed and it was all official!


  • #13
    Drumpot
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,306 ✭✭✭✭Drumpot


    think I was 6 months old when I was adopted. My wife sometimes gets sad when she looks at our young baby and other son. I just feel happy that I can give them the love that I didnt have for those first few months.


  • #14
    nlgbbbblth
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,668 ✭✭✭nlgbbbblth


    Six weeks old in 1972.


  • #15
    jellybee
    Closed Accounts Posts: 21 ✭jellybee


    I was adopted at 4mnths old in 1982. I was in pre-adoption foster care before mum and dad were approved.


  • #16
    jigsaw07
    Registered Users Posts: 73 ✭✭jigsaw07


    six weeks old in 1983


  • #17
    Mazdoll
    Registered Users Posts: 41 ✭Mazdoll


    As birth mother you were given a 6 week period after the birth and your baby was placed in foster care, during this time you were allowed see your baby dependant on the agency or nun that was dealing with you, after that time the adoption process began. If my memory is right it was then at 6 months the adoption was finalised. Might answer the time frame. Sorry if it sounds very cold, it doesnt mean to be.


  • #18
    The_Conductor
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 32,285 Mod ✭✭✭✭The_Conductor


    I think I was 7 or 8 weeks old- and a very very suspicious baby when I was adopted. I refused to accept a bottle from any women- my adoptive dad was the only one who I'd feed for. There were lots of funny things the first few days- like the adoptive agency never told them any of the basic things- the teeth of bottles needed to have a hole pierced in them with a hot needle for example- and baby isn't getting any food, if you don't see bubbles........ :D

    I was told that the reason I was 7 or 8 weeks of age was because I had a heart murmur and had been hospitalised before being adopted, in St. Finbars in Cork. I've never been able to confirm this- and when I suggested to Bessboro that it might be nice to give me some info- the response was, go get a court order........ nice........ :confused:


  • #19
    Shpuds
    Closed Accounts Posts: 43 ✭Shpuds


    I was adopted at 3 weeks from Italy to my Irish parents in 1983.


  • #20
    CarrieMae
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1 ✭CarrieMae


    I was assigned to my parents (if that's the phrase!) at 1 day old but was 3 months before I went home. Had originally been intended for another couple (which I always wondered about)
    Haddington Road, Sr Gabriel in 1975


  • #21
    Hermy
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 11,421 Mod ✭✭✭✭Hermy


    smccarrick wrote: »
    ...the response was, go get a court order........ nice........ :confused:

    Really???:eek::(:mad:

    I was 18 months old. I presume I was hanging around Patricks Guild till then like the puppy no-one wants.:o That would have been around late 1977.

    Genealogy Forum Mod



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  • #22
    testicle
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,429 ✭✭✭testicle


    I was 12 weeks I think. A foster home until then.


  • #23
    aprilbaby
    Registered Users Posts: 7 ✭aprilbaby


    I was fostered for 6 weeks and then placed with my parents.


  • #24
    shortstuff
    Closed Accounts Posts: 43 ✭shortstuff


    Moonbeam wrote: »
    I was wondering where the 1st 3 months of my life went.
    I wasn't given to my parents until I was 3 months old and they got me from think it was Haddington road (I forget but it was around there).
    I was adopted through St Patricks guild and Sr Gabriel.
    Other people were adopted at a few days old so I am wondering does anyone have any idea why I would have been 3 months old?
    I really need to start an official search.
    Why am I wondering this now? My 2nd daughter is now 3 months old and I could not imagine her with out a mammy to love her and mind her.

    Hey Moonbeam,

    I was adopted when i was just over a month old. My bio mum was under age at the time and her mum had to sign the papers but the staff on the maternity ward fixed it somehow that we were both able to stay in the hospital for the first month of my life, and she got to spend that time with me. It was only a couple of days later that my adopted parents got to take me home.
    I get why you're starting to question the whos what's and why's of your first three months, it's seems that there is so much to do and appreciate with a baby in those three months. Hopefully you'll find your answers.

    Oh and congrats on the birth of the babs. Hope everyone is doin good.


  • #25
    whitemoon
    Registered Users Posts: 16 ✭whitemoon


    Hi,

    My hubby was 2yrs and 9 months when he was adopted from Temple Hill. Born in 1967.


  • #26
    Moonbeam
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 18,968 Mod ✭✭✭✭Moonbeam


    Thank you everyone for your replies:)

    I wish there was not so much about our own lives that we did not know:(


  • #27
    LennieB
    Registered Users Posts: 119 ✭✭LennieB


    I was adopted at 3 months also from Cork. I never really had an interest in finding out any information about my background growing up (to be honest I thought that it would never be possible). My adoptive parents had told me all they know, basically I was born in England and my birthmother was Irish and wanted me adopted and brought up in Ireland. When I was 33 (I'm 40 now) the publicity about the Contact Register was going on and that sparked an interest. I also began to wonder about my first 3 mths and that missing piece of the jigsaw.
    I ended up contacting the HSE in Cork, just to see if they had a file on me, met the social worker a couple of months later and that turned out to be a hugely emotional day for me. There was a lot of information on my file about me, and both my birthparents. Obviously it was just firstnames, county etc as it was all non-identifying but lots of info on their families, interests etc. To cut a long story short I went to London a few months later to get my original file and birth cert (which I was entitled to being born in England) - another V emotional day, got all original records from the hospital where I was born etc. I also got the full names of my birthparents so when I came home I went to the records office and discovered my birthparents married 2 years after I was born.
    To cut a long story short (again!), we made contact through the social worker in Cork, wrote to each other over couple years and met 3 years after I first initiated search. They subsequently had 2 more children who know nothing about me.
    We have a nice relationship now, met up once since and due to meet soon again. Also keep in contact by text etc.


  • #28
    La_Gordy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,767 ✭✭✭La_Gordy


    I was adopted at 3 months old. For those three months I was with a foster family in Kildare. I wish there was a way of finding them too as I imagine there is a curiousity of what happened next for both sides.


  • #29
    Moonbeam
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 18,968 Mod ✭✭✭✭Moonbeam


    Through which agency?
    I like to believe I was with my mammy but we all like to have romantic thoughts.


  • #30
    No1J
    Closed Accounts Posts: 783 ✭✭✭No1J


    I was 6 weeks old when my parents adopted me from St Pats, the consent was signed a year later.


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  • #31
    horsemeat
    Closed Accounts Posts: 237 ✭✭horsemeat


    Adopted at 8 weeks, don't know anything about those eight weeks, and don't want to know either.Happy with my family as is and no interest in digging up the past.


  • #32
    Mr Simpson
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,332 ✭✭✭Mr Simpson


    I was with a foster family for 9 months. My parents met me first when I was 6 months old. Apparently my foster family were lovely, I have photos of me with them, so I have baby pics. My little brother, who was adopted from the same birth mother was with a foster family for 2 weeks. These were in 1990 and 1993.


  • #33
    AshSmith
    Closed Accounts Posts: 50 ✭✭AshSmith


    One week before I turned 18! I had been living with my adoptive parents though since I was 2!


  • #34
    Ickle Magoo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,485 ✭✭✭✭Ickle Magoo


    I went to a childrens home when I was weeks old as social workers fought to have me and my siblings made wards of court...I was three when I was adopted.


  • #35
    Stinjy
    Registered Users Posts: 785 ✭✭✭Stinjy


    Five and a half....


  • #36
    Moonbeam
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 18,968 Mod ✭✭✭✭Moonbeam


    years?


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  • #37
    The_Conductor
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 32,285 Mod ✭✭✭✭The_Conductor


    Moonbeam wrote: »
    years?

    I was wondering too! It would be very unusual for a child of 5 1/2 to be adopted- I guess 98% of all adoptions were placed at under 6 months

    Have to see what the latest report of the Adoption Authority has in it (very useful statistics section at the back of it normally)


  • #38
    OneIdea
    Closed Accounts Posts: 249 ✭✭OneIdea


    It was 9months for me, I must have been an ugly baby:)

    EDIT: Actually, come to think of it, I don't know just yet at what age I went in to the adoption system.


  • #39
    zef
    Closed Accounts Posts: 947 ✭✭✭zef


    I was adopted at 6 months thru st Louise Adoption agency in nov 1970.
    I assume i lived at St. Patricks Home in Navan rd. before being adopted. I live close enough to where it was... weird its a big housing estate now.


  • #40
    Stinjy
    Registered Users Posts: 785 ✭✭✭Stinjy


    Yup years, but I lived with my gran (bm's mum) and I know like all the circumstances etc, its nice knowing too as ive no anger or resentment towards her

    Also a side question if I may,
    Did all of you guys on here all know you were adopted or was it hidden untill you were adults?


  • #41
    johnny25clare
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9 ✭johnny25clare


    Age seven for me I was the first child in Ireland to be legally adopted by their foster parents the application went in when I was a few days old took seven years to change the law also I had to be told at age seven because I had to go into the courts chambers and tell the judge I wanted to stay with my foster parents and that I way alright with changing my name etc


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  • #42
    OneIdea
    Closed Accounts Posts: 249 ✭✭OneIdea


    OneIdea wrote: »
    It was 9months for me, I must have been an ugly baby:)

    EDIT: Actually, come to think of it, I don't know just yet at what age I went in to the adoption system.
    UPDATE: I take it back... I was born 5th August 1970 and placed with my adoptive parents on the 14th September 1970, so I'll call that a month, give a few days here or there in Holles Street National Maternity Hospital. My adoption papers went through May 12th 1971.


  • #43
    emma11811
    Registered Users Posts: 21 ✭emma11811


    zef wrote: »
    I was adopted at 6 months thru st Louise Adoption agency in nov 1970.
    I assume i lived at St. Patricks Home in Navan rd. before being adopted. I live close enough to where it was... weird its a big housing estate now.
    We must have been cot buddys I was there in 1970 aswell:p


  • #44
    E39MSport
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,721 ✭✭✭E39MSport


    Hi All.

    This is not something I talk about at all, anywhere.

    I've just stumbled across this forum and only last week also stumbled across my adoption certificate. I was surprised to see that the date on the form is 14 months after my DOB.

    Is that generally a good indicator of how long one might have been in the home or whatever it's called?

    I remember having a very strong habit of banging my head on my pillow in bed when going to sleep and off the back of couch etc. Must have had the habit for a while if I can remember doing it. I also remember the deep calming effect it had on me when I practiced it.

    Have a feeling I was on my own for a while maybe....

    Maybe just a conincidence.

    Re: tracing, had a letter a few years ago when the adoption thing hit the news the first time. I refused contact because I didn't want to upset my adoptive parents and find it hard to deal with life as it is without opening up whatever can of worms it might bring.

    Apparently, I had a half brother who dropped dead at 30 which has me worried.


  • #45
    OneIdea
    Closed Accounts Posts: 249 ✭✭OneIdea


    E39MSport wrote: »
    Hi All.

    I was surprised to see that the date on the form is 14 months after my DOB.

    Is that generally a good indicator of how long one might have been in the home or whatever it's called?

    As above I had previously written 9months, but later I found out that it can take a while for adoption papers to go through. There are many reasons for this I guess, a nice thought would be, maybe your BM needed more time before she made her final decision, but the chances are you where placed with a family within a month or two of your birth.

    When your ready to know your past, see the trace guide HERE at the very least follow step 1, obtaining your non-identifying information. You will know from that alone when you where placed.


  • #46
    tyview
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 210 ✭✭tyview


    The date on the adoption certificate isnt indicitive of when the adoption papers were signed by BMs as far as I can make out anyway. My BM signed the papers before I had even been placed with my adoptive parents. She had been told the agency had a couple chosen for me so she visited me in temple hill and made her way to the agency to sign the papers. She said she felt she couldnt have it hanging my parent so signed straight away. My cert shows the date 14 months later too


  • #47
    OneIdea
    Closed Accounts Posts: 249 ✭✭OneIdea


    I wonder if 14months is the point of no return and possible some agency's held out before processing the papers?


  • #48
    Crann na Beatha
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,763 ✭✭✭✭Crann na Beatha


    This post has been deleted.


  • #49
    mamafi
    Registered Users Posts: 55 ✭✭mamafi


    My hubby was 1 month in hospital after he was born and then 10 weeks in St. Clares before his Mam and Dad got a call to come and ger him so he was about14 weeks old .


  • #50
    diabeticmum
    Registered Users Posts: 60 ✭✭diabeticmum


    My Husband was born on 21 oct, and they have told us he was in hospital til 13 dec and given to his adoptive parents on 15 dec according to social worker.


  • #51
    SuloBulo
    Registered Users Posts: 28 ✭SuloBulo


    I hate those missing 3 months. I was born in early december... And it makes me sad that i wasnt with my mam and dad for my 1st christmas. thankfully ive spent every one since with my fantastic parents and the last two with my wonderful child.


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