are family would like to have a child of are own but can't so we got in to frostercare to help kids out and hopeing to adopt and child out of it but nothing happen at all. so if we can have are dreams come true if would be great.

Please give the the website that Jenna has created. I am 44 and have been estranged from my mother, father (who are divorced) for over 10 years. I would love to join a support group.

While it is not a step I would make, I can understand where Jenna is coming from. I just recently was told by my own mother after a rocky 29 year relationship that she has never liked admitting she has four children. It solidified the end our our relationship and I was just wondering, I see the discussion on getting parents to adopt you, but can you, as an adult, divorce a parent.

I don't want to seek being adopted, I just want to end a very bad relationship completely because I developed a lot of emotional issues during a long stream of abuse and neglect and it has continued to as much as three days ago. I have tried just not speaking to her but she keeps creeping back in my life when she feels "giddy" and then it quickly becomes abusive again. I want it to end altogether.

I grew up without a father and my mother died when I was 25. I have a very loving relationship with my aunts and uncles and other loving extended family members.
I can understand meeting your own needs, however, I agree with some of the others that have left comments regarding Jenna understanding that so many children have no one else.
If she is as financially stable as her friends have posted - then why not lighten someone else's life by providing them wit the love she has to offer.
Turn this around and fulfill not only her life -but someone else equally deserving.

WOW i dont know what to say to all of you. I think all of you is forgetting there is someone for all of you and parent a father and most of all he will fill in all your amptyness and crys sorroys and that would be Jesus. God bless you all.

I knew Jenna when she lived in Northern California. I know it's hard for some people to understand what she is seeking. But she's not after anybody's will. Jenna is a successful professional, a talented graphic artist. I can attest to the fact that Jenna simply wants to find what she was cheated out of as a child -- a family, parents especially, that will give her the unconditional love and support that family members provide for each other. Jenna is intelligent, deeply intellecutal and devoted to social justice. Please admire her for her courage to subject herself to misunderstanding, even ridicule, to start a conversation about the tragedy of family estrangement.

I watched Jenna on her show, and I have already posted on her website - familywanted.org - for those who are interested.
I was a bit disturbed by Jenna's revelation on the show, that she wanted the couple she'd befriended to
formally adopt her after three years. I didn't get the impression she actually meant full legal adoption, just that a family would find room in
their lives for her.
Hate to split hairs, but isn't that enough, Jenna?
Why does the family have to "make it legal" for her
to find the fulfillment she
was looking for?
If I recall from the Glamour magazine article,
the family already had grown children, so perhaps
this couple didn't want to
raise any controversy with
their own children by adding a legal new sibling
to their family, displacing
Mom and Dad's assets?
Many watchers might find
Jenna's confession a bit off-putting; and might be
hesitant to venture into such an undertaking after
hearing this "end of the story". If I were considering that, I would be a bit reticent, also.

I don't believe that this type of "adoption" is legal. Some provinces (I don't know about states)will allow legal "adult adoption" but if, and only if the adopting parents actually parented the "adoptee" when they were a child, for instance, your step father could adopt you as an adult if he parented you as a child.
I am quite sure (and I do work in the field) that an adult adoption of an unknown and unrelated adult is not legal.
It slightly disturbs me that the family who she connected with for three years were willing to be a permanent and loving part of her life but were not willing to legally "adopt" her (which as I mentioned, I beleive is not legal) and she is no longer in a relationship with them because of that. That smells a little of usery to me.
Can't we make loving an connected relationships with each other without co-opting soemthing reserved for children?

Hi tyra!!my comment is for jenna she needs to find herself a man like a best friend becuz noone can replace her parents place yes she can be adopted but she also need a therapist.thats my opinion.thanx bye

To those of you encouraging adopting a child or having a child to fill a gap due to a lack of family.

Deciding to have a child let alone adopt one is not a good idea in order to find ones self or fill gaps.

Children need a firm foundation to rely on and someone looking for support themselves especially should not be adopting a child from a home. Those children have many needs and you need to be emotionally, mentally an physically ready to be there for them.

Having children or adopting children does not fill voids or gaps. It is a responsibility and is not a quick fix for anyone's emotional problems.

Having children is not just about showing them a life you wish you had.

A lot of these people do need emotional support, and I can see how finding an adoptive family can be very beneficial.

this is the web site if you havent already found it

www.familywanted.org

I want to know about her website because I am looking for a family to adopt me!

I was disturbed by Jenna. I think she should be happy with life, especially considering her age. Why not have children of your own and do what you were made by God to do? Stop focusing on going backward and start your own family. It might fill a gap that you obviously feel you have.

I was very touched by Jenny. I support and admire her and her courage to follow her heart. I am a 61 year old woman who always wanted a daughter..I have two happily married sons,but, still feel someone is missing. I would love to know more about Jenny.

I pray she will get this communication and out of it all, gain a friend if not more.

Sincerely,
Donna
Arizona

I was very touched by Jenny. I support and admire her and her courage to follow her heart. I am a 61 year old woman who always wanted a daughter..I have two happily married sons,but, still feel someone is missing. I would love to know more about Jenny.

I pray she will get this communication and out of it all, gain a friend if not more.

Sincerely,
Donna
Arizona

Jenna was a bit disturbing. Should be content with finding people willing to befriend her and not focus so much on the being legally adopted

I watched the show today and was really touched by Jenna's story. After looking at your website and seeing how many have posted comments I don't feel quite so alone. I am in the same situation as well. My mother left us years ago and my dad remarried and has a new family that I'm not included in. Holidays are very hard because my little girl who is 7 years old wonders why she doesn't have anyone over for Christmas or other holidays - that is what is so heartbreaking for me to see. I wish so much that I could change it for her. I would love more information on Jenna's website.

Sounds familiar all you gals. It's been five years for me. Parents don't agree with my diagnosis of MS which I've had for 12 years. They tried to tell me my husband was not good for me or taking care of me. We've been happily married for 17 years.

I have been told by a number of people that I need to look for a new family. I am alone. I am a 50 year old single mother of 3 grown children. I have been cut out of my birth family. I have been very depressed because I am so isolated and unloved. I would like very much to have a new family.

I have been estranged from my mother, father, sister, & 2 children for 2 1/2 years & know how painful it is to be shunned & denied access to my family.
In my nuclear family, we suffer the effects of unresolved issues due to physical, verbal, & psychological abuse, alcoholism, & mental illness. Your typical disfunctional family, I suppose.
I was the family member who sought help in support groups, through nurturing open trusting relationships, & got counseling to resolve some of my own issues. This was not acceptable to my mother & sister. Therefore they convinced the rest of the family that I was "crazy" & a trouble-maker.
I would like more information on the website.
Thank you for listening & understanding.
Let love rule.

I am 22 and Lost my mom last year to cancer so I know how it feels To long for a Mother. Mothers have unconditional love that no one else can give. I think Jenna should look for a daughter. Every one tells me that the void I have will go away once I have children because you can fill those spaces by showing love the way you want to be loved. I would love to help jenna out if she wants to talk to someone.

Jenna's story was really touching to me. My situation is somewhat similar. Warning this is a long story.

I grew up with a military mom and dad, my mom and dad divorced within a short time after they were married. I don't remember what happened between them. My mom soon remarried another man, and had my sister, they divorced shortly after she was born. My ex-step-father got custody of my sister. I remember very little of the event. I remember at one point my sister and I were close.
About a year or two after there divorce my mother remarried to a man who had two sons. They were about three and fours years older than I. My mother was happy and I could tell, but my life completely changed.
I was around seven to eight (a lot of my memory is block because of my events) they were 11 and 12. They were also very sexually curious, and my parents always said if a stranger did anything to certain areas to tell them. Never someone in the family. My virginity was gone at eight years old, and it was not until I turned about about 9 1/2 that I realized what happened. It all started when my mom put me in my step-grandmothers sewing room, with my step-brothers to go to sleep for the night in the same bed. What mom in her right mind would put an eight year old girl in the same bed with 11 and 12 year old boys!! When I finally realized what was going on I retaliated against my bothers, mainly my older bother. I also change completely. I started to steal, lie, sneak out of my home in the middle of the night. I tried so hard in my way to show my parents their was something wrong. She gave up and sent me to my real fathers for a year. He was hardly home, he worked a lot, and he was in a new relationship with another woman. I cant say I was a saint growing up, I voluntarily slept with a buy when I was 14, I figure since I had nothing to give to my future husband what was the point in waiting. I also started to smoke cigarettes on my own accord.
My father left for his duty in the military, and left me with a strange man to watch over me. I rearranged the door knob on my door and broke it. When he returned home for his wedding, my room was a mess and the door knob was broken. He was very angry. He gave me an actual spanking (I was 15), and a pair of shoes and a dress to go to his wedding to woman that I strongly disliked, and warned him she is a wrong choice. It wasn’t my place to say that to him, but I felt I had a right to say something. They divorced a year later.
He returned me to my mom that summer. My brothers were out of the house. My life was getting back on track. I rebelled still for a short time. I got a job. I walked to work and back everyday I had a shift. When I returned to school, I still had a job. I would walk to school, then go to work come home and do it all over the next day. I saved up all my money. I would give my checks to my mom and she would deposit my money into my account. She got sick and she couldn’t work for a while, so I told her she could borrow my money. She revealed to me she already did, she stole from me her own daughter. Its very different when a child does it, then when a parent does it. Even though I let her borrow it, it made me distrust her.
In mid 11th grade year she told me, when I get out of school I would have to move out or go to college. I graduated with straight A’s but I had no clue what I wanted to go to college for. I graduated six months early, when I graduated three days later “Do you have a place to stay”. I couldn’t believe she wanted me out so bad. I have never been in trouble with the law, I made great grades, kept a job, everything you could want from your child at 17. Luckily I was involve with a man who had a good job in the military and could sign a lease. I moved out five days after I was done with school.

I married the man three days after my 18th birthday, and at first it was great. He changed after he turned 21. He became a alcoholic. He went through recovery I was their for him and help. He shortly went back to his old ways, and became distant. We divorced after four years. Their was a lot more things that went on, but its not a big part of this story. Through our divorce my parents were not supportive at all. They didn’t see everything and he was golden to them. I had some money saved, but not enough to properly stand on my own two feet. I went back home, I had no other place to go at the time. I was only planning to stay their about three to four months. Get a job in the area, and a apartment. Three weeks went by and on my birthday she said, “you know you cant stay here, when are you moving out” I just got a job that day! Get a job in the area, and a apartment. During that time, I sat down one night and told my mom about my older bother. I was finally able to talk about it to her with a clear stable mind. Her reaction was “It was just curiosity, and you guys took it to far” I couldn’t believe it. After I realized what was going on between my brothers and I, I fought, I said no, I would lock myself in my room when my parents were at work. That was not curiosity. I tried so hard to tell her but she won’t listen. I brought it up to my brothers, one remembered (the older), the other didn’t. The oldest did the most damage, he apologized and I have tried to forgive him and on some level I have.

The point of my story in relations to Jenna’s is, you don’t pick your family at first, you don’t have that choice coming into this world. Family is not about who your blood relations are, its about the people who love you unconditionally. People who are their for you when you need it most. Its about listening, forgiveness, compassion, companionship (mother daughter/ father son companionship) and much more. I can understand her need for a adoption of mature parents. I am 24 years old and I still talk to my blood mother, I don’t want to. I paint on a fake smile because thats is all I have. My real father and I do not speak anymore, and I don’t know how much longer I can keep a painted face. I would love to have a pair of parents who would wnat to have a daughter like me in their life. Parents that I could spend Christmas with and not be uncomfortable, and know that I am truly cared about.

I know this story was very long and thank you for reading it. I hope their are others that can relate to Jenna’s and my sitation.

Also if someone can direct me to that website I would greatly appreciate it.

i want more info about jenna's website.

I would like to know more about Jenna's website. I have been estranged from my family since I was 18, am now 37. It's sad, honestly. Perhaps becoming a part of this group would bring healing not only to me but others as well.

I watched this and I was intrigued so I did a search....and I guess my question is....what happened to the new family that responded to her ad back in January or so of 2007? Hmmmm