717: Rachel Nielson: Navigating the Evolving Ethics of Adoption

Published: Jan. 4, 2023, 8 a.m.

Rachel Nielson is the host of the popular parenting podcast, 3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms. Each 30-minute episode gives 3 actionable takeaways to help women find more meaning in their unique motherhood experiences. Rachel lives in the mountains of Idaho with her husband and her two miracle children who arrived to their family through adoption and IVF. As a former high school English teacher, she loves to read, write, and talk about deep ideas...which has made podcasting a perfect career for her to do from home.\nRachel and I first connected as podcasters who shared side-by-side rankings in Apple Podcasts Kids & Family top charts.\xa0Some may have suggested we were competitors, but we immediately saw one another's work as complementary.\xa0When we had the opportunity to meet in person in 2020, we were able to see that as colleagues, friends, and confidants in this industry we could lean on each other and build a really special relationship that could support us as women, moms, and podcasters.\xa0I so treasure my sweet friendship with Rachel.\xa0\xa0\nWe have spoken about guesting on each other\u2019s shows for years.\xa0To be honest, the challenge has been narrowing down what to talk about because we could talk to each other for days about so many things related to motherhood.\xa0But, I asked Rachel if she would be willing to talk about something deeply personal and special today - the adoption of her precious son, Noah.\n\nListen in to hear Rachel share:\n\nHer family's journey into open adoption\n\nHow she honored and did her best to center her son\u2019s birth mother, Katie, throughout the process of adoption\n\nThe unfathomable grief she held for Katie the day Noah was born\n\nThe trauma of adoption for adopted children, no matter how healthy relationships they have with bio parents and adoptive parents\n\nHow she and her husband navigated building and maintaining positive and healthy relationships with Noah\u2019s bio parents, Katie and Drew\n\nHow Katie\u2019s death by suicide shifted Rachel\u2019s perspective on the ethics of adoption\n\nWhat her family\u2019s relationship with Drew looks like - how he is so significant and special in Noah\u2019s life\n\nWhat she wants prospective adoptive parents to consider before going through the adoption process\n\n\nLinks mentioned:\n\nRegister for my 2023 Plan & Prep Pajama Party: shamelessmom.com/pajamaparty\n\n\nConnect with Rachel: 3in30podcast.com\n\n\nRachel\u2019s Podcast: 3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms\n\n\nGet Rache\u2019s Course,\xa05 Days to More Meaning in Your Motherhood: 3in30podcast.com/sma\n\n\nRachel on Instagram\n\n\nThank you to our sponsors this month:\nFull Time VA: Check out this free training on how to be a virtual assistant that makes full-time income with part-time hours: thefulltimeva.com/Shameless.\xa0 Owner Amanda Rush Holmes is also including a bonus free guide for SMA listeners -\xa0 The VA Kickstarter Workbook!\nRitual: Ritual\u2019s Essential for Women 18+ is a multivitamin you can actually trust. Ritual is offering my listeners 10% off during your first 3 months.\xa0 Visit ritual.com/shameless to start Ritual or add Essential for Women 18+ to your subscription today.\nRothys: For stylish, comfortable, sustainably made shoes, shop Rothy\u2019s. Get $20 off your first purchase at rothys.com/SHAMELESSMOM.\xa0\nStrollerCoaster: A Parenting Podcast!: Need another podcast in your parenting podcast library, check out StrollerCoaster: A Parenting Podcast!\xa0wherever you listen to the SMA.\xa0\nThrive Market: Get groceries and household essentials delivered right to your door.\xa0 Join Thrive Market today and get 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift! Go to thrivemarket.com/shameless.\xa0\nTeachable: Join tens of thousands of creators turning their knowledge into scalable online businesses. Join a free plan at teachable.com/shameless to get started.\xa0\nInterested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices