The Adopted Life - Neiko's Family 

Adoption is trauma. The entire experience. Please people learn. I’m so happy to actually hear her say the word trauma. Everyone skips over it.

This video made me cry. "More love is not hurting anyone" - What a beautiful thing to say and it's so true. They are all doing their best together to make life the best experience possible for anyone.

Adoption is an experience like no other. I am so thankful that these adopted parents are honoring Neiko's mom in such a special way. It's a good thing.

You want to know what spoke volumes about the dynamic of this beautiful family. The fact that Nikos bio mother was sitting alone with their biological child! You can tell they trust her with both children, that they know that she is so much more than any mistakes she may have made! That was beautiful! Bought me to tears! Thank you all for sharing.

I was adopted and I don't see adoption as trauma. I, like Neiko, knew I was adopted and similar to him I knew both my natural parents. As a kid growing up in a small town, the secret would not have been kept. My natural father, use to take me to church with his family on some Saturdays. My natural mother is my adoptive mother's niece. She'd take me to amusement parks, fairs, trips to the movies. She was the fun pa authority in the mix. My adoption was good, maybe because I knew everyone.

That was beautiful to watch. As an adoptee who has found my biological parents and has such supportive adoptive parents like in this video, it is nice to know Nieko has the same. Adoption is trauma we must never forget this but we can continue to grow each and every day.

This is beautiful and so powerful and emotional! Love their story. "Nico needs so much more than my discomfort". What a truth! Knocked it out of the park again Angela and Bryan.

Finally someone who had adopted a child from foster care . Finally. Foster kids deserve homes too.

I'm in tears. I'm a biological grandmother who is always an outsider. I love this couple! They have my respect for thinking about the child not about themselves only.

I'm humbled by this beautiful couple and the single mom who are building a world of love for this child. I dream of a world that will be filled with children raised by responsible parents. It's not a given.

As an adoptee, I don’t support the birthmother’s contact until she can get her life together. I feel for neiko. This seems incredibly confusing! These APs are great & I love the adoptive mother’s realistic viewpoints. IMO.

Bruce is a great human; we need more of him and his wife :).

I am crying. Thank you for sharing

As a future adoptive parent being in the waiting period, I just soak up your videos. It's so important to me to be realistic so that one day I'll be hopefully able to solve emerging issues, for instance identity issues. Thank you for your very sophisticated and sympathetic approach to the topic in your videos.

I adore this family and all the members of it. This is one lucky kid.

Enjoyed all of this, it was nice to see a new version of a family . They had the childs best interest at the forefront, and made decisions that will serve him well in the future. Just loved it so much.

How have I not seen this until now!? Shame on you, RU-vid! Bravo, Angela, and KUDOS to the family the surrounds Neiko in this most amazing way.

Beautiful story. This is a very unique family dynamic. Bruce & Emilee y'all are inspiring because I know this cannot be easy.

more love.... never hurt anyone! profound. So is "stewarding" children.... we don't own them. Thank you so much for this very, very beautiful and honest interview about the way it can be when we all want the very best for a child.

Just discoverd your channel.Watching this series.... As an adoptee I can say for myself that it feels like a big breath of fresh air to hear all those stories from adoptees with which I can relate but can't explain to the people around me. They think they understand,but they don't. I really appreciate what you are doing.Thank you for sharing all those stories.

My heart feels so full when I hear adults talk about children and stewardship, as he stated so well, children are not possessions and they can not have too much love ❤️. Thank you so much for opening your heart to this child and sharing your loving and courageous journey ❤️

Great family truly blessed

Beautiful love story! Thank you for sharing!

Every time I watch this, the tears come.... What a loving family, all the way around! We don't own our children, they teach us more than we teach them and we are stewards for our children. Wow, this family said it all, so poignantly. We are a transracial adoptive family and these videos have supported us tremendously. You do wonderful work Angela! Thank you.

This is so beautiful. I wish it would always be that way ❤️❤️

This family and everyone behind the scenes I just gotta tell you, this is one of the most uplifting, hopeful, inspiring, and truly human stories I've ever heard. Thank you all for sharing they love you've all cultivated and nurtured together.

What an outstanding story about empathy, commitment, openness and living your values!

Once again, you made an amazing video, Angela and Bryan. Thank you for continuing to educate us in a gentle and positive way. Thank you, Neiko and your family for doing this film. It helps and encourages me as an adoptive mom.

Wow what an awesome open minded family. Later on I can see Neiko saying “I wasn’t able to live with my natural mother but my adoptive parents did what they could to keep her in my (our) lives and I really love them for that “.

Wow!! Beautiful!❤❤😍 Thank you for sharing these perspectives as future adoptive parents!!!

Neiko is so loved! ❤

Tremendous piece! Thank you for sharing. Love you Emily

wow. great video. As parents, you are doing your very best for your son. He is so lucky to have you guys guide and love him through this. When he is a full adult, he will appreciate all you that the 3 adults in his life has done. As a future adoptive mom, this is so helpful. good job.

Absolutely Powerful...

Absolutely amazing! Thanks for showing the possibilities. May more of us have the strength, grace and most of all LOVE to be more open with adoption.

Beautiful film!

Lil Neiko is so loved, to have three parents that’s all molding you to be a better man is awesome

Just wow 💖

Touching story❤️!

This was the sweetest 🥰🧡

This is so incredible as a kid who grew up in the system. My mom had her rights terminated. I never got adopted because I was 11 going into the system. Went through over 50 placements foster homes, group homes, crisis units. Never was able to rebuild that bond with my mom. I am 31 now and have no family except my sister thank god. But it sucks. That termination of parental rights broke all familial bonds and now i am 31 with no family i have a 7 year old son. He is all the love and family i could ask for. But before him spending thanksgiving and Christmas completely alone was the norm and it was normal to me so it wasnt too hard. But thinking back it is sad what cps did. I will have lifelong cptsd and i keep my guard up high. I always say dont let people close enough to hurt you. The abandonment feeling is real. I am doing quite well though compared to alot of kids i grew up with in the system.

That was beautiful.

Please keep these videos coming!❤

Beautiful family.

This is so beautiful! Thanks for this work!

Bless you both. Bless beautiful Neeko and God bless your beautiful family!! This is such a beautiful video and it says right out all the things I’ve been getting at for years here. Every one involved in adoption should watch this until it is strong in their mind.

good job you all

Congratulations Angela and thank you. This is an absolute gem of truth and heart. Thank you to these lovely parents for sharing their story.

So glad to see open adoption modeled in this video! I appreciated hearing each adult's point of view presented respectfully.

I'm praying for Neiko's brithdad to be able to step up and be even a small, but healthy part of Neiko's life as well. Lord, let all adoptive parents be open to as much openness as is possible, and Lord, please help our states be willing to fund the mediation services and equip many, many more counselors/social workers to know how to guide adoptive and brith parents in navigating these waters well. Lord, for the kids.

I love you Breanne. ❤️❤️

Beautiful

This is so sweet

I'm not gonna cry I'm not gonna cry I'm not gonna cry I'mnotgonnacry *INHALES* They're all so beautiful!

wow, i want to give myself to bringing this kind of Act 101 legislation/funding to Georgia. Wow. wow. wow.

Lifelong trauma...