Ep. #119: What Happens When an Open Adoption Falls Apart with Sydney Curtin

In this episode of The Adoption Roadmap Podcast, Rebecca Gruenspan—adoptive parent, consultant, and founder of RG Adoption Consulting—sits down with Sydney Curtin, a birth mother, life coach, speaker, and author of Courageous Considerations: A Guide to Open Adoption, for a raw and deeply honest conversation.

In Part 1, Sydney shares her personal adoption story—one marked by coercion, broken promises, and profound loss. After placing her daughter into what was promised to be an open adoption, Sydney describes how contact slowly diminished, boundaries were repeatedly shifted, and eventually her daughter was moved overseas, dramatically limiting their relationship. Through her lived experience, Sydney sheds light on how power imbalances, lack of informed consent, and unsupported openness agreements can leave birth mothers—and children—bearing long-term emotional consequences.

This first part centers on the human cost of adoption when integrity breaks down. Sydney’s story challenges listeners to reconsider what openness truly requires, how promises in adoption impact a child’s identity, and why adoption must be approached as a lifelong relationship rather than a transaction. Part 1 invites hopeful and adoptive parents alike to sit with discomfort, listen closely, and reflect on the responsibility that comes with saying “yes” to adoption.

Important Links

RG Adoption Consulting

• Website → https://rgadoptionconsulting.com

• Book a 30-Minute Consult → https://rgadoptionconsulting.com/contact

Sydney Curtin

• Website → https://www.coachcurtin.com/

• Instagram

• Solace Gift Boxes → AdoptSolace.com

Chapters

00:00 – Sponsor Message
01:55 – Episode Introduction
02:10 – “This Isn’t About Intention, It’s About Integrity”
03:08 – Coercion and Family Pressure
04:57 – What She Asked for in an Open Adoption
06:36 – Being Told She Was Asking Too Much
08:30 – What the Open Adoption Agreement Actually Said
09:44 – The Adoption Was Finalized Without Her
10:58 – Her Daughter Was Moved to France
12:15 – Openness Reduced and Mediation Requested
14:30 – The Agreement Is Nullified
15:40 – Adoption Compared to a Marriage
16:24 – Profit, Power, and the Role of Agencies
17:04 – Post-Placement Support and Counseling
18:29 – Legal Rights and PACA Agreements
20:38 – When the Relationship Began to Break Down
22:10 – Losing Her Daughter More Than Once
23:45 – How She Survived the Early Days After Placement
25:56 – A Birthday Call That Changed Everything
26:45 – The Impact on Siblings
27:30 – End of Part 1 / Tease for Part 2

Tune in to The Adoption Roadmap Podcast every Wednesday. If you like what you hear, I'd appreciate a follow and 5-star rating & review! THANK YOU!

For questions about adoption, episode suggestions or to appear as a guest on The Adoption Roadmap Podcast, email⁠⁠⁠⁠ support@rgadoptionconsulting.com⁠⁠⁠