Posted on Jan 15, 2023
For many, family bonds can run deeper than shared DNA
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https://www.npr.org/2023/01/14/ [login to see] /for-many-family-bonds-can-run-deeper-than-shared-dna
Sirianna Arathi was left out of an important family meeting, one where a couple of her friends, their parents and partners decided she was part of their family – even though she isn't blood related.
"I feel so confident in just being like 'this is my family, these are my sisters, this is my older sister, this is my older brother,'" says Arathi, who takes pride in "owning that kind of chosen family identity without having to put that label of chosen family."
Arathi is originally from south India, but was adopted by a white family in the United States as a child.
She says her adoptive family expected her to be grateful for being "saved" and tried to control her by overmedicating her. She also said another family member abused her.
"I had this view of family that I should be not only completely loyal to the family that raised me, but that was it. That was family," she says.
When Arathi told her adoptive parents about the abuse, she said they did not believe her. That was a breaking point for her, and she turned to her 'older sister' for help.
Sirianna Arathi was left out of an important family meeting, one where a couple of her friends, their parents and partners decided she was part of their family – even though she isn't blood related.
"I feel so confident in just being like 'this is my family, these are my sisters, this is my older sister, this is my older brother,'" says Arathi, who takes pride in "owning that kind of chosen family identity without having to put that label of chosen family."
Arathi is originally from south India, but was adopted by a white family in the United States as a child.
She says her adoptive family expected her to be grateful for being "saved" and tried to control her by overmedicating her. She also said another family member abused her.
"I had this view of family that I should be not only completely loyal to the family that raised me, but that was it. That was family," she says.
When Arathi told her adoptive parents about the abuse, she said they did not believe her. That was a breaking point for her, and she turned to her 'older sister' for help.
For many, family bonds can run deeper than shared DNA
Posted from npr.org
Family
LGBTQ+
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 2
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Sorry for her. Unfortunately, not everyone who adopts children should do so.
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I don't know how people can not find their blood lines these days. My dad does family history and genealogy many hours a day, it's his hobby. And since he is home-bound, there's not a lot else he does other than watch documentary and movies. If he gets a name, 99 out of 100 times, he's made a connection to our own family within minutes.
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