Guidelines for First Email to Birth Relative

The purpose of sending an email is to help your birth relative begin to get to know you – it obviously will not answer all their questions about the person you have become. The following are only suggestions. Please disregard those areas that you do not wish to write about. You may prefer to share some areas of your life personally with your birth relative. Or there may be other areas that have not been mentioned below – please feel free to add these to your email.

Physical Description: height, weight, hair colour, eye colour, build

Health: your general state of health, any serious illnesses, allergies

Education & Employment: grade completed, special training, occupation, volunteer work

Other Suggested Topics: likes and dislikes, pictures, family tree outline

Lifestyle: single/married/divorced/involved with someone. If you have children (adoptee) give details. If a birth mother, did you have any other children? Give details. Our interests and hobbies

Adoptive/Birth Family: general information about your parents, siblings etc. Which family members are aware of your interest in a reunion? If an adoptee, how did you learn of your adoption?

Motivation: When did you become interested in a reunion? What kind of relationship are you hoping will evolve? Are you interested in meeting other members of the birth relative's/adoptee's family? What concerns do you have about proceeding with a reunion?