118 – Those Were The Magic Words

DL called me from Manhattan, New York. He talks about his youth in a home with a mother addicted to prescription medications who probably wasn’t fit to adopt. When he moved out at 18, he followed his natural talent to climb his way into the music industry. However his suspicion that his birth mother was alive, contrary to what he was told, never left him.

In reunion, DL's birth mother nearly backed out of meeting him as the guilt of his relinquishment washed over her decades after her decision. Thankfully DL’s sister made sure their reunion, and his reunion with his sisters, did happen. This is DL’s journey.

DL (00:04):

I walked into the living room and my brother in law sees me and his jaw drops to the floor because I look exactly like my mother and my mother was seated on the love seat. And I walked over to her, sat down, gave her a big hug and just whispered in her ear. I want you to know that I'm not mad. And she started crying and I started crying.

Damon (00:32):

Who am I? Who am I? Who am I? Who am I? Who am I? Who am I? This is who am I really a podcast about adoptees that have located and connected with their biological family members. I'm Damon Davis and on today's show is DL. He called me from Manhattan, New York DL talks about his youth in a home with a mother addicted to prescription medications who probably wasn't fit to adopt. When he moved out at 18, he climbed his way into the music industry, but his suspicion that his birth mother was alive. Contrary to what he was told, never left him in reunion. His birth mother nearly backed out of meeting him as the guilt of his relinquishment washed overheard decades after her decision. Thankfully, DL sister made sure their reunion and his reunion with his sisters did happen. This is DL journey born in 1952, DL said adoption was just becoming a more popular option for family planning. Back then childless couples were just starting to turn to adoption as an opportunity to make a family. Some of them trying desperately to avoid scuttlebutt and derisive gossip from their peers. DL's mother could not conceive. And the people around her were having children or talking about adopting. So his parents adopted him. He grew up in Vineland, New Jersey in between Atlantic city, New Jersey and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the only child in their home listen to the way he describes his mother's choice to adopt a child.

DL (02:21):

My mother, uh, I don't think was really prepared for adoption. Um, in the first place she had some serious psychological troubles and she was also carotid to prescription medication, um, namely amphetamines and barbiturates, which made her mood swings, uh, violent and sudden. Um, so she really would have been probably better off getting a dog.

Damon (02:51):

What does that mean for you as a child who's experiencing these youth? So, you know, as a kid, you don't know that she's cross addicted. You've this sounds like knowledge you've gained as an adult, but what did it feel?

DL (03:02):

No, I gained as a adolescent.

Damon (03:05):

Okay. So what did, what was it like for you as a kid to experience these, these mood swings and the, and the, her addiction?

DL (03:13):

Well, I was protecting myself a whole lot, um, because she would turn on a dime. Um, it would just come out of nowhere and she would just go sort of mental and start screaming and hitting and, uh, you know, fairly, uh, psych...