Wednesday, September 30, 2009

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.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

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

Sunday, September 13, 2009

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.