Meet Elaine (She/Her)
Elaine, assigned female at birth in 1964, adopted at two months of age, is a cis-gendered 60-something adoptee. She’s used her pre-adoption name, Stella Bahin, in a variety of contexts ever since her tweens, and answers as readily to either Elaine or Stella.
She’s pleased to be facilitating a new Dunbar support group called The Elder Adoptee. The Elder Adoptee is for adult adoptees of all ages who wish to explore, and perhaps express, how having been adopted as a child impacts a person over the entire course of their lifetime.
The Elder Adoptee.
The Elder Adoptee.
Coming up are a sequence of 12 monthly meetings called ‘The Elder Adoptee With Writing’ which will alternate fortnightly with a linked sequence of 12 monthly meetings called ‘The Elder Adoptee With Art’.
Elaine will be applying her relevant experience to structuring and facilitating these meetings: she’s worked as a poet; as a poetry, creative writing, and visual art workshop facilitator; is the author of The Unicornskin Drum; and is currently in the process of editing a handbook she’s written about being an adoptee.
Both sets of meetings are designed as paired discussion-based courses, yet it’s not necessary to attend all 24: each meeting stands alone. Attending any single one of either set is welcome.
The ‘With Writing’ meetings are intended to have more emphasis on our thoughts around adoption, whilst the ‘With Art’ meetings are intended to have more emphasis on our feelings.
Participation in the creative activities is optional. They’re intended as playful ways of facing the unique challenges the different stages of life present the adult adoptee. And having something of a scribble or a doodle can be fun and therapeutic. There will be printable resources to accompany the meetings for those attendees who’d like to use them, and opportunities to share any work produced for those who’d like to share it, online.