Private Adoptions

Alabama Mobile A Mobile County family's success story may change your feelings about adoption.

by Rose Ann Haven

Published: Tue, November 03, 2009 - 5:29 pm CST Last Updated: Wed, November 04, 2009 - 4:49 pm CST

MOBILE, Alabama - When you think of adoption, do you think of tons of red tape, legal expenses, and having to go overseas?
During November, National Adoption Awareness Month, we share with you local adoption stories that may help dispel myths of adoption.

"I don't really know how to explain it. Like, she's my daughter, but she's just extended out there. So, I don't know. It's difficult to explain. I don't know. She's ours. We share her", says Summer Rieder. Four years ago, Rieder gave birth to Lula Jane and placed her in the arms of Mary and Vince George who two years later adopted another baby, Beaux.

"We really enjoy the mothers of our children and we begged both of them to please be main characters in our lives and please know our children and let our children love them because we knew the children would benefit", says Mary George.
While seven months pregnant, Rieder worked with a private adoption attorney to handpick The Georges.
Rieder says,
"She went to doctor's appointments with me, I talked to her every single day. You know we did lunches things like that...and the more I talked to them, and met with them..the more I fell in love with them and I knew that they were perfect".

The bond that formed between Rieder and The Georges is going strong. Rieder visits regularly. Lula Jane calls her "summy" and knows where she came from.
Everytime I come over she talks about when she was in my belly and so she knows everything and actually Mary tells her the story and she just knows it's one big family pretty much", Rieder says.
Mary George says Lula Jane looks and acts like Rieder, very bubbly and determined. Beux is like his birth mother too.
"For example Beau's a fabulous artist. His mother is an artist and we know to encourage that and we can share that with him and tell him, you come by it honestly, says Mary George.

Adoption affords children financial resources a birth parent may not be able to provide. The Georges say open adoption gives their children the chance to know and be proud of their genetic link and the ability to thrive from the love of all of their parents.
Mary George says,
"If a birth mom is out there who can hear my voice who is thinking about it...it can be a wonderful thing for their child".

The Georges say private adoption is less expensive and faster.
It cost them about five thousand dollars, and it took them eight weeks to adopt Lula Jane.