--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Adopted children are self-invented…" description: "\"“Adopted children are self-invented because we have to be; there is an absence, a void, a question mark at the very beginning of our lives. A crucial p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/jeannette-winterson-71322_children_adopted-children-are-self-invented-becau_1656241.jpg" --- # Adopted children are self-invented because we have to be… ![“Adopted children are self-invented because we have to be; there is an absence, a void, a question mark at the very beginning of our lives. A crucial part of our story is gone, and violently, like a bomb in the womb” quote by Jeannette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/jeannette-winterson-71322_children_adopted-children-are-self-invented-becau_1656241.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/jeannette-winterson-71322_children_adopted-children-are-self-invented-becau_1656241.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/jeannette-winterson-71322_children_adopted-children-are-self-invented-becau_1656241.jpg) > ““Adopted children are self-invented because we have to be; there is an absence, a void, a question mark at the very beginning of our lives. A crucial part of our story is gone, and violently, like a bomb in the womb”” [Jeannette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-winterson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adopted children feel a void from missing origins, shaping a self‑invented identity. **In simple terms:** Adoption can leave a sense of missing origins. Key Takeaway Acknowledge and support identity exploration. Themes adoption identity loss self‑creation Mood empathetic introspective Type therapeutic inspirational When to use this quote - counseling sessions - support groups - personal storytelling - creative writing Key Concepts psychology family dynamics narrative therapy Questions to Reflect On - How does your personal story influence your sense of self? - What resources help fill identity gaps? A Different Perspective Not all adoptees experience this void. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adopted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adopted/) [Adopted children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adopted-children/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Children Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-self-528075/) [Invented Absence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invented-absence-708097/) [Question mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question-mark/) [Self Invented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-invented-708098/) ## Related quotes > [“I think that everyone should have at least a part of them that's self-invented; in fact, the world would be much more interesting if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jody-gehrman/i-think-that-everyone-should-have-at-least-a-part-of-them-that-s-self/) [Jody Gehrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jody-gehrman/) > [“Adopted children are self invented because we have to be. There's an absence, a void, a question mark at the very beginning of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/adopted-children-are-self-invented-because-we-have-to-be-there-s-an/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [I was an adopted child of my grandparents, and I don’t know how I can ever express my gratitude for that because my parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-earl-jones/i-was-an-adopted-child-of-my-grandparents-and-i-don-t-know-how-i-can-2/) [James Earl Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-earl-jones/) > [Virtue is the daughter of Religion; Repentance, her adopted child,--a poor orphan who, without the asylum which she offers, would not know where to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/virtue-is-the-daughter-of-religion-repentance-her-adopted-child-a/) [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) > [I have three adopted children with Phil, and for years I was fighting in court with him over being able to see my kids.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-spector/i-have-three-adopted-children-with-phil-and-for-years-i-was-fighting/) [Ronnie Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-spector/) > [Somehow destiny comes into play. These children end up with you and you end up with them. It's something quite magical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/somehow-destiny-comes-into-play-these-children-end-up-with-you-and/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [It actually got me upset reading about adopted children. They become junkies or criminals or actors. I wanted to write a book from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nyqvist/it-actually-got-me-upset-reading-about-adopted-children-they-become/) [Michael Nyqvist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nyqvist/) > [The mother of the year should be a sterilized woman with two adopted children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-r-ehrlich/the-mother-of-the-year-should-be-a-sterilized-woman-with-two-adopted/) [Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/) > [It is the parent's job to see how their child learns and to make sure that the children's self confidence is buoyed at all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-winkler/it-is-the-parent-s-job-to-see-how-their-child-learns-and-to-make-sure/) [Henry Winkler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-winkler/) > [“That environmentalists need the goodwill of children would seem self-evident- but more often than not, children are viewed as props or extraneous to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-louv/that-environmentalists-need-the-goodwill-of-children-would-seem-self/) [Richard Louv](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-louv/) > [My father never raised his hand to any one of his children, except in self-defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-allen/my-father-never-raised-his-hand-to-any-one-of-his-children-except-in/) [Fred Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-allen/) > [“Our musicians in residence carry this belief into the classroom. They don't think of children's self-esteem as so fragile that it will be shattered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-perret/our-musicians-in-residence-carry-this-belief-into-the-classroom-they/) [Peter Perret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-perret/) > [You bring up your children to be self-reliant and independent and they double-cross you and become self-reliant and independent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cormier/you-bring-up-your-children-to-be-self-reliant-and-independent-and/) [Robert Cormier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cormier/) > [If we assume, parents give birthto children for their own self-interest/ Selfihness ! So what does a girl born, AfterAll, one day he would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/if-we-assume-parents-give-birthto-children-for-their-own-self/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [Educate your children to self-control, to the habit of holding passion and prejudice and evil tendencies subject to an upright and reasoning will, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/educate-your-children-to-self-control-to-the-habit-of-holding-passion/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## More by Jeannette Winterson > [“I think people are often quite unaware of their inner selves, their other selves, their imaginative selves, the selves that aren’t on show in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-winterson/i-think-people-are-often-quite-unaware-of-their-inner-selves-their/) [Jeannette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-winterson/) > [“I like such kisses. They fill the mouth and leave the body free. To kiss well one must kiss solely. No groping hands or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-winterson/i-like-such-kisses-they-fill-the-mouth-and-leave-the-body-free-to/) [Jeannette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-winterson/) > [“The photographer frames the shot; writers frame their world”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-winterson/the-photographer-frames-the-shot-writers-frame-their-world/) [Jeannette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-winterson/) [Explore all 4 Jeannette Winterson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-winterson/) ## More Adopted quotes > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Somehow destiny comes into play. These children end up with you and you end up with them. It's something quite magical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/somehow-destiny-comes-into-play-these-children-end-up-with-you-and/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [Azerbaijan unleashed the war, and was defeated in that war; Azerbaijan asked for truce (including from the Commander of Karabakh's forces) and later started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serzh-sargsyan/azerbaijan-unleashed-the-war-and-was-defeated-in-that-war-azerbaijan/) [Serzh Sargsyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serzh-sargsyan/) > [I'm not at all against white people adopting black children, because we're all human beings who need to give love and be nurtured in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kola-boof/i-m-not-at-all-against-white-people-adopting-black-children-because/) [Kola Boof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kola-boof/) > [Susan, an only child who never had any roots, and I, a lone wolf who got married 20 years to late, were adopted by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harpo-marx/susan-an-only-child-who-never-had-any-roots-and-i-a-lone-wolf-who-got/) [Harpo Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harpo-marx/) > [We may argue eloquently that 'Honesty is the best Policy' - unfortunately, the moment honesty is adopted for the sake of policy it mysteriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/we-may-argue-eloquently-that-honesty-is-the-best-policy-unfortunately/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [A son or daughter in any human family is either born to or adopted by the parents. By definition, a child can't be both.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/a-son-or-daughter-in-any-human-family-is-either-born-to-or-adopted-by/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [. . . by natural selection our mind has adapted itself to the conditions of the external world. It has adopted the geometry most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-poincare/by-natural-selection-our-mind-has-adapted-itself-to-the-conditions-of/) [Henri Poincare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-poincare/) > [I was adopted my black Americans, I feel that I'm a 'Hybrid'. When I'm around Africans'I suddenly feel very black American. And when I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kola-boof/i-was-adopted-my-black-americans-i-feel-that-i-m-a-hybrid-when-i-m/) [Kola Boof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kola-boof/) > [I did this one movie with a great director named Wayne Kramer. It was 'Crossing Over,' and Harrison Ford, Ashley Judd and Ray Liotta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-chon/i-did-this-one-movie-with-a-great-director-named-wayne-kramer-it-was/) [Justin Chon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-chon/) > [I had severed relations with the Romanian exiles who had become politically conservative and even extremely right wing; I was giving chess lessons to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dumitru-tepeneag/i-had-severed-relations-with-the-romanian-exiles-who-had-become/) [Dumitru Tepeneag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dumitru-tepeneag/) > [People, the common people, can genuinely see what I'm doing. Moreover, people know that I have adopted four principles in living my life: simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-sattar-edhi/people-the-common-people-can-genuinely-see-what-i-m-doing-moreover/) [Abdul Sattar Edhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-sattar-edhi/) > [To a large extent, the American church has become merged with the world. It has adopted so many of the world's ideals and standards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/to-a-large-extent-the-american-church-has-become-merged-with-the/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [When you're adopted, no matter what, you've got issues with unconditional love. And you find out you're the product of the worst situation for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-atkins/when-you-re-adopted-no-matter-what-you-ve-got-issues-with/) [Rodney Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-atkins/) > [Capitalism justified itself and was adopted as an economic principle on the express ground that it provides selfish motives for doing good, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/capitalism-justified-itself-and-was-adopted-as-an-economic-principle/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) [Browse all 735 Adopted quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adopted/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Adopted children are self-invented because we have to be; there is an absence, a void, a question mark at the very beginning of our lives. A crucial part of our story is gone, and violently, like a bomb in the womb”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jeannette Winterson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-winterson/adopted-children-are-self-invented-because-we-have-to-be-there-is-an/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adopted" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-winterson/adopted-children-are-self-invented-because-we-have-to-be-there-is-an/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/jeannette-winterson-71322_children_adopted-children-are-self-invented-becau_1656241.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/jeannette-winterson-71322_children_adopted-children-are-self-invented-becau_1656241.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/jeannette-winterson-71322_children_adopted-children-are-self-invented-becau_1656241.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Adopted children are self-invented because we have to be; there is an absence, a void, a question mark at…” — Jeannette Winterson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jeannette Winterson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-winterson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Adopted children are self-invented because we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-winterson/adopted-children-are-self-invented-because-we-have-to-be-there-is-an/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-winterson/adopted-children-are-self-invented-because-we-have-to-be-there-is-an/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```