Card of the Month - December 2009

Design 106


"After all these years"

Designed by Jeanette Broekman and Megan Whittington (Adoptee's)
Inspired by Patricia Clarke. (dec.05 - Natural Mother to Jeanette)

Photography/Digital Artwork: Jeanette Broekman

Design 106, comes to life when the card is opened. The image on the front of the card signifies a Mother who has lost her child for many years, holding that child dear to their heart, yet the emptiness and darkness seen on the front of the card represents the feeling that she is missing an arm. Albeit a perceived amputation, the arms that were meant to hold her child, are filled with emptiness.

Once opened, immediately the image on the front of the card is transformed into a sense of fullness, warmth and contentment - the verse inside acknowledges that she has reunited with her child, and the sense she felt of a perceived amputation, has now faded into the background making way for the new sensation, that now, finally, after all these years, the day has come when her baby's return has filled her empty arms.

The above review can be related to by any Mother who has lost their child in a shopping center, or even less threatening, the child being in the care of a babysitter, or having a sleep over at a friend's house. Often, Mother's feel as though they are missing an arm when their child is away from them. For Natural Mother's, who have lost their children for many, many years, and the experience of never having their child back, until such time as a reunion many years later, these Mum's are left in that torturous state of missing a limb, so to speak.

This card is suitable for Natural Mothers who have been separated from their child, and are now reuniting. This card aims to give the Natural Mother a symbolic expression of her pain and emptiness, as well as her joy and fulfillment. This card represents an important stage in the reunion process, and can assist the Natural Mother to express her feelings to her child. The child, in some cases may be overwhelmed with the enormity of the message, however - in time and with maturity, an appreciation for the Natural Mother's need to express her feelings in this way will be treasured by most.

In support of Natural Mother's expressing themselves, this card can be sent at any time the Mother physically feels that her child has returned to her, whether it be early on in the reunion, or later when a relationship has been formed and tested.

This card is also suitable for First Time New Mother’s who have experienced miscarriage/s.

This design is available as:
Greeting Card - view card in full with option to purchase

Design 106 - After all these years.  $4.95au
Bookmark - view bookmark with option to purchase

Design 1101 -Lost & Found $2.00au
Art Work - view artwork and available formats

Printed Reproductions on Canvas, Vinyl, Photo, Poster mounted and unmounted.

Card of the Month - November 2009

Design 104

"You"

Designed by Jeanette Broekman and Megan Whittington (Adoptees)
Inspired by Patricia Clarke. (dec.05 - Natural Mother to Jeanette)
Artwork: Ben Broekman

Design 104, states the obvious, everybody knows it - and this card reinforces it - The child is always powerfully important to a person. This card, titled "You" is a thoughtful and positive card to send or to receive.

Under circumstances of separation, the verse in this card attempts to acknowledge the unknown depths that the separation may have had on either party.

This cards suggests moving into the "realm" of reality gently.

There is a sense of commitment, reassuring the receiver that in good times and bad, and with unforeseen complexities - this relationship is very special. Also mentioned in this card are statement's such as, "you can count on me, anytime you need me" and "you are one of the most important people in the world to me".

This card is suitable for people who have been separated and are now reuniting. This card aims to set some foundations upon which a healthy and long term relationship has a chance to flourish. This card can be sent by either the Natural Mother, or Natural Father to the child.

It could also be interpreted in such a way, that the child could send to either parent, acknowledging what we all know, that the child is powerfully important to a person.

This design is available as:

Greeting Card - view card in full with option to purchase
Design 104 - You. $4.95au 

Art Work - view artwork and available formats
Printed Reproductions on Canvas, Vinyl, Photo, Poster mounted and unmounted.

Card of the Month - October 2009

Design 103

  "This has been a blissful time for me"

Designed by Jeanette Broekman and Megan Whittington (Adoptees)
Inspired by Patricia Clarke. (dec.05 - Natural Mother to Jeanette)
Artwork: Jeanette Broekman Photography/Digital Art

Design 103, was created to acknowledge the bliss that reunions can bring, and the marking of a new chapter for all involved.

This card can be sent and received by anyone touched by adoption, as well as people who are experiencing bliss and new beginnings in any area of their life.

There is a sense of "belonging and acceptance through calmness" as well as acknowledgement and respect to the process of integration.

The message in this card is a positive one.  In some scenario's this may just be the first time that "us" comes into it, indicating; "we are on the same page".  It not only acknowledges feelings of "bliss", it also makes a very important statement that acknowledges positive feelings for the future, not just for the sender, and the receiver, this card acknowledges all involved.

This design is available as below on our website: http://www.reunitecards.com.au

Greeting Card - view card in full with option to purchase
Design 103 - This has been a blissful time for me.  Price: $4.95au

Bookmark - view bookmark with option to purchase
Design 103BM -Bliss. Price: $2.00au

Art Work - view artwork and available formats

Printed Reproductions on Canvas, Vinyl, Photo, Poster mounted and unmounted. Price: On application.

Card of the Month - September 2009

Design 100 

 
"It was not permitted that we stay together"

Designed by Jeanette Broekman and Megan Whittington (Adoptees)
Inspired by Patricia Clarke. (dec.05 - Natural Mother to Jeanette)
Artwork: Jeanette Broekman Photography

Design 100, was inspired by the first letter that one of the Directors of Reunite Cards, Jeanette received from her Mother, after being separated for almost 28 years.

As was the case for many women in the 1950's, 60's and 70's - "Forced Adoption" caused many Mothers and their children to be separated, and not permitted to stay together.

The verse inside this card is from Mother to Child.  It is a very strong message of intense feelings towards the child she has lost, and most importantly letting the child know that they were wanted, and have been terribly missed.

Adoptees do want to know that they were wanted, and although the verse in the card is quite long, it addresses the following very key questions that any adoptee has.

1. The love between the Mother and Father.
   
   
2. The Mother's perception of herself as Mother and not "just a surrogate, who cooly gave birth, so someone else could have a child"
   
   
3. The Mother's feelings towards her child.
   
   
4. The Mother's acknowledgement of the "reason this happened", which in almost all cases is the same.  In those days, it was considered to be "the best avenue for the child" to be separated from it's Mother.  These unsupported, unwed Mothers were considered "unfit".  The Mother was treated in such a way that she was told "forget this ever happened", and "one day, you'll get married and have children of your own".
   
   
5. Expression to the child that they were wanted and have been terribly missed.
   
   
6. Expression of love for her child.

This card is suitable for people who want to express how they feel, right from the beginning.  It is also suitable for women who were in a relationship with the Father of the child.   Often, no one know's where they stand with each other, and all parties involved feel as though they do not have the right to say how they really feel.

From my own experience as an adoptee, I believe that keeping it real, may be confronting, but in the long run is a more honest approach, that can build the foundation upon which a healthy and long term relationship can flourish.

This design is available as below on our website: http://www.reunitecards.com.au
Greeting Card - view card in full with option to purchase
Design 103 - This has been a blissful time for me.  Price: $4.95au

Adoption Greeting Cards - Meet the Directors, Jeanette & Megan

Reunite Cards is all about bringing people back together. We have a unique range of specialty greeting cards designed to acknowledge those relationships resulting from adoption, separation and reunions. Our cards are exclusively designed by adoptees, birth parents and adoptive parents to bring you an authentic and genuine range of suitable to use cards for all occasions.

Our life experience, passion, and interest in helping others to find expression for an often un-expressed experience, along with a great personal understanding of the complexities found in these relationships allows us to create a signature range of unique greeting cards. Along side adoption situations, our cards are also for those who are separated from significant others, those who are part of a broken family, or foster families.

We bring to paper, the expressions unsaid, the exhilaration of reunion, the acknowledgement of separation, the delight in all the firsts, the electrifying joy of connecting with significant others. We hope you enjoy browsing our site, www.reunitecards.com.au 

Jeanette & Megan

     

 Preview of Reunite Cards combined with Morning Tea Fundraiser for Cancer research. May 2007.

 

Perry's Old Books - Wollongong, NSW - Our first retail outlet! Thank-you!

At the Berry Markets, December 2007

Canvas Prints

Reunite Cards - Bringing people back together

Are you looking for a card with a difference?

We know first hand what it's like to walk into the local news agency, spend hours looking for the "right" greeting card, only to walk out with a blank card, or even worse - walk out totally empty handed!!

You probably know exactly what that's like, and you probably have just got used to the idea that if you want to send a card to your Birth Mother, or a card to the child that you were not able to raise, or to the adoptive parents that raised you, or even if you are a friend of someone who is in the adoption triad, chances are - you'll hunt down a blank card, that has a nice picture on the front, and attempt to articulate your feelings in a meaningful way.

In the world of adoption, foster care, separation and reunion - it's not always that easy to articulate what it is that you are feeling.

The great news is, a collective group of people including adoptees, adoptive parents, birth parents, immediate family members, and friends have used their life experiences to bring you a range of greeting cards that acknowledge all aspects of the adoption, separation and reunion experience from many perspectives.

More great news is... the cards are showcased on www.reunitecards.com.au, and are also available for purchase. So without further ado....we wish you a successful card hunting experience!!

No more blank cards!!

Reunite Cards TV Commercial, featuring one of the
Directors from Reunite Cards, Megan Whittington.