While I'm not adopted, I did experience parental abandonment from my father, who left before I was born, & we've still never met (I'm now 37). Mum, who fell pregnant unexpectedly while in a relationship with him, was left to raise me alone when he bailed, & managed to do so with the help of her mother & stepfather. While she did her best under the circumstances, I don't think maternal instinct came naturally to her - I doubt she would have chosen to have kids if I hadn't have been conceived accidentally.

My paternal abandonment was compounded further by his parents, who initially ignored his protestations I wasn't his child (which Mum swears isn't possible), & built a relationship with me until around my 4th birthday. At that stage, for whatever reason, they changed their mind, & cut ties with me completely. I often wonder whether this abandonment by both my father & them forms the basis of my personality disorder. It's certainly impacted on my interpersonal relationshps significantly - textbook 'daddy issues' abound!