Send us Fan Mail What happens when you go from being an only child… to one of twelve overnight? In this episode of Family Twist, and Kendall sits down with Elizabeth Barbour, an adoptee, adoptive mom, and reunion expert who has spent more than two decades living the reality so many are just beginning to face. Elizabeth shares her story of searching in a pre-DNA era, making that life-changing phone call, and hearing the words many adoptees dream of: “I’ve hoped and prayed for this day.” But this conversation goes far beyond the moment of discovery. Together, they explore what happens after reunion. The emotional complexity. The shifting identities. The joy that exists right alongside grief. And what it really means to build relationships with people who are suddenly family. Kendall opens up about his own ongoing experience with rejection from his birth mother, leading to one of the most honest and emotional conversations we’ve had on the show. Elizabeth brings a rare perspective. She has lived reunion as an adoptee and as a parent. Through her work as a coach and practitioner, she helps others navigate this exact terrain with intention, care, and grounding. This episode is about more than finding family. It is about what comes next. WHAT YOU’LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE The moment Elizabeth found her birth mother and how it changed everything What it was like discovering 11 siblings after growing up as an only child The emotional reality of reunion after the initial excitement fades How Kendall continues to process rejection from his birth mother Why “family is addition” is more than just a comforting phrase What adoptees, NPEs, and donor-conceived people need most in reunion How to navigate identity, belonging, and grief all at the same time WHY THIS EPISODE MATTERS With more people discovering DNA surprises every day, reunion is no longer rare. But understanding how to navigate it still is. If you are: An adoptee An NPE (Not Parent Expected) Donor-conceived Or someone supporting a loved one through discovery This conversation will help you feel less alone and more prepared for what comes next. Elizabeth Barbour, M.Ed. is an author, speaker, life coach, and shamanic practitioner who helps people navigate life’s most complex transitions with grounding and intention. An adoptee reunited with her birth family for more than 26 years, Elizabeth is also an adoptive mother whose family is in reunion with their daughter’s birth family. Her lived experience, combined with her professional work, gives her a rare and deeply informed perspective on the emotional realities of adoption reunion. Elizabeth supports individuals moving through grief, identity shifts, and relationship-building after discovery, using self-care, storytelling, and ritual as tools for healing. She is the author of Smart Self-Care for Busy Women and Sacred Celebrations: Designing Rituals to Navigate Life’s Milestone Transitions, and is currently writing a book focused on adoption reunion. She lives in Asheville, North Carolina with her daughter and two cats.