Gretchen Sisson

Thanks for having me, Brittany.

Thanks for having me, Brittany.

Thanks for having me, Brittany.

So one of the ones that people recognize most immediately when I tell them I do work with relinquishing mothers, with birth mothers, is Juno. Right. The 2007 indie classic about a teen mom played by Elliot Page. Right. Juno comes up often.

So one of the ones that people recognize most immediately when I tell them I do work with relinquishing mothers, with birth mothers, is Juno. Right. The 2007 indie classic about a teen mom played by Elliot Page. Right. Juno comes up often.

So one of the ones that people recognize most immediately when I tell them I do work with relinquishing mothers, with birth mothers, is Juno. Right. The 2007 indie classic about a teen mom played by Elliot Page. Right. Juno comes up often.

And a lot of the mothers that I interviewed really hated Juno and really rejected this idea that mothers who relinquished their infants were kind of just immediately moving on with their life. Right. and didn't want to have an ongoing connection or knowledge of their child the way that it's portrayed in that film.

And a lot of the mothers that I interviewed really hated Juno and really rejected this idea that mothers who relinquished their infants were kind of just immediately moving on with their life. Right. and didn't want to have an ongoing connection or knowledge of their child the way that it's portrayed in that film.

And a lot of the mothers that I interviewed really hated Juno and really rejected this idea that mothers who relinquished their infants were kind of just immediately moving on with their life. Right. and didn't want to have an ongoing connection or knowledge of their child the way that it's portrayed in that film.

That was really uncomfortable for them. They also had some logistical concerns about Juno riding a bike so soon after labor and delivery, which I share with them. Right, right.

That was really uncomfortable for them. They also had some logistical concerns about Juno riding a bike so soon after labor and delivery, which I share with them. Right, right.

That was really uncomfortable for them. They also had some logistical concerns about Juno riding a bike so soon after labor and delivery, which I share with them. Right, right.

Yeah, I think Caitlin and Tyler's story is... so important. And I think you're right. For people of our generation, this was really a crucial pop cultural moment. They were in a really optimistic place early in their adoption, right? They believed that what they had chosen was best for their child, was best for them.

Yeah, I think Caitlin and Tyler's story is... so important. And I think you're right. For people of our generation, this was really a crucial pop cultural moment. They were in a really optimistic place early in their adoption, right? They believed that what they had chosen was best for their child, was best for them.

Yeah, I think Caitlin and Tyler's story is... so important. And I think you're right. For people of our generation, this was really a crucial pop cultural moment. They were in a really optimistic place early in their adoption, right? They believed that what they had chosen was best for their child, was best for them.

And they had, you know, Dr. Drew on the couch next to them telling them that they were more mature, more responsible, better parents for having relinquished their child.

And they had, you know, Dr. Drew on the couch next to them telling them that they were more mature, more responsible, better parents for having relinquished their child.

And they had, you know, Dr. Drew on the couch next to them telling them that they were more mature, more responsible, better parents for having relinquished their child.

And I think that that is a narrative that we have like never really pulled apart. The idea that they are better parents by virtue of disclaiming their parenthood, terminating their parenthood has made them more worthy of their child. You know, they feel very differently about their adoption today than they did when you go back and you rewatch that first season of 16 and Pregnant.

And I think that that is a narrative that we have like never really pulled apart. The idea that they are better parents by virtue of disclaiming their parenthood, terminating their parenthood has made them more worthy of their child. You know, they feel very differently about their adoption today than they did when you go back and you rewatch that first season of 16 and Pregnant.