Fostering/adoption

Abstract

Marika, 40, a mature-age student of English for ‘University Entrance Examination’, was distraught that her son Nathan, 28, whom she had adopted out, had contacted her. Raised in Queensland, Marika had conceived Nathan when she was 12 years old. Her mother had just left the family home and Marika’s alcohol-abusing father had raped her in a bout of drunken fury. Marika had chosen to continue with the pregnancy, adopt the baby out, and get on with her own life. Now Nathan had appeared unexpectedly, and demanded to know who his real father was. Nathan would not reveal how he had obtained details concerning his biological parents, but it did not seem to have been through legal channels. Marika had given no permission to tell him. Marika had told Nathan that she did not wish to discuss the circumstances of his birth, and had requested that he did not contact her in future. Marika was extremely distressed about the whole incident.