--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You realize you've never walked in…" description: "\"“You realize you've never walked in another person's shoes. Never have. Never will. The same is true in adoption. There are three sets of adoption shoe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/sherrie-eldridge-36162_adoptive-parents_you-realize-you-ve-never-walked-in-anoth_1005900.jpg" --- # You realize you've never walked in another person's shoes… ![“You realize you've never walked in another person's shoes. Never have. Never will. The same is true in adoption. There are three sets of adoption shoes sitting at the end of the boardwalk. The adoptees...the birth parents'...and the adoptive parents'. Each is unique and each has a story to tell.” quote by Sherrie Eldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/sherrie-eldridge-36162_adoptive-parents_you-realize-you-ve-never-walked-in-anoth_1005900.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/sherrie-eldridge-36162_adoptive-parents_you-realize-you-ve-never-walked-in-anoth_1005900.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/sherrie-eldridge-36162_adoptive-parents_you-realize-you-ve-never-walked-in-anoth_1005900.jpg) > ““You realize you've never walked in another person's shoes. Never have. Never will. The same is true in adoption. There are three sets of adoption shoes sitting at the end of the boardwalk. The adoptees...the birth parents'...and the adoptive parents'. Each is unique and each has a story to tell.”” [Sherrie Eldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrie-eldridge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adoption involves three distinct perspectives—adoptee, birth parent, adoptive parent—each with unique experiences that are often overlooked. **In simple terms:** Adoption has three different viewpoints. Key Takeaway Listen to all sides in adoption. Themes empathy family identity diversity understanding Mood thoughtful empathetic reflective Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - family counseling - school workshops - support groups - policy discussions - media interviews Key Concepts adoption dynamics perspective taking psychological impact Questions to Reflect On - What story has been unheard in adoption? - How can we honor each perspective? A Different Perspective May simplify complex emotions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adoptees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adoptees/) [Adoption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adoption/) [Adoption Sets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adoption-sets-2155000/) [Adoption Shoes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adoption-shoes-2154998/) [Adoptive parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adoptive-parents/) [Boardwalk Adoptees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boardwalk-adoptees-2154999/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ## Related quotes > [“Destiny is not always preordained. Life is about making choices. Our lives are the sum of all the choices we make, the bridges we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-land/destiny-is-not-always-preordained-life-is-about-making-choices-our/) [Judith Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-land/) > [“Adoption is a lifelong journey. It means different things to me at different times. Sometimes it is just a part of who I am.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-dibenedetto/adoption-is-a-lifelong-journey-it-means-different-things-to-me-at/) [Kelly DiBenedetto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-dibenedetto/) > [“I believe one of the most sacrificial acts of love adoptive parents can do is to give up their preconceptions and agendas about what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrie-eldridge/i-believe-one-of-the-most-sacrificial-acts-of-love-adoptive-parents/) [Sherrie Eldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrie-eldridge/) > [“Discovering that I was adopted redefined my entire world, but it taught me that who you are doesn't change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/discovering-that-i-was-adopted-redefined-my-entire-world-but-it/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [“It's illegal to deny people their records due to race or gender. Adoptees deserve the same rights and protections.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/it-s-illegal-to-deny-people-their-records-due-to-race-or-gender/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [“Laws forbidding adoptees from accessing their original birth certificates are outdated and need to be changed today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/laws-forbidding-adoptees-from-accessing-their-original-birth/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [“Adoptee rights are everyone's rights, and they deserve to be protected.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/adoptee-rights-are-everyone-s-rights-and-they-deserve-to-be-protected/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [“Adoption isn't just a childhood experience, it's a life-long experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/adoption-isn-t-just-a-childhood-experience-it-s-a-life-long-experience/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [“If the system were designed to protect adoptees, why do so many have to fight for their rights?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/if-the-system-were-designed-to-protect-adoptees-why-do-so-many-have/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [Adoption was such a positive alternative to abortion, a way to save one life and brighten two more: those of the adoptive parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/adoption-was-such-a-positive-alternative-to-abortion-a-way-to-save/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I think adoption is a blessing all around when it's done right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/i-think-adoption-is-a-blessing-all-around-when-it-s-done-right/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [Adoptive parents are taking on enormous responsibility, both emotionally and financially. Quite frankly, they need as much disclosure as possible about the child's background…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-robertson/adoptive-parents-are-taking-on-enormous-responsibility-both/) [Pat Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-robertson/) > [“I wasn't crazy after all. I wasn't the only one who experienced fear about loss and guilt towards their adoptive parents. I was relieved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zara-phillips/i-wasn-t-crazy-after-all-i-wasn-t-the-only-one-who-experienced-fear/) [Zara Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zara-phillips/) > [“The adoptee benefits because his collective parents are permitted to grow secure in their particular roles in his life. His adoptive parents are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-silber/the-adoptee-benefits-because-his-collective-parents-are-permitted-to/) [Kathleen Silber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-silber/) > [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/) ## More by Sherrie Eldridge > [“Then one detail caught my attention. "Time (of birth), 5:57 A.M." Wow! I really was born! I wasn't an alien who was dropped down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrie-eldridge/then-one-detail-caught-my-attention-time-of-birth-5-57-a-m-wow-i/) [Sherrie Eldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrie-eldridge/) > [“Listen to your hearts, parents! You are the expert when it comes to knowing your child. I love the Scripture that says we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrie-eldridge/listen-to-your-hearts-parents-you-are-the-expert-when-it-comes-to/) [Sherrie Eldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrie-eldridge/) > [“The remarkable thing we have is a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrie-eldridge/the-remarkable-thing-we-have-is-a-choice-every-day-regarding-the/) [Sherrie Eldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrie-eldridge/) > [“Because adoption is a lifelong journey, we have a future filled with the potential to learn invaluable lessons. But many of us haven't been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrie-eldridge/because-adoption-is-a-lifelong-journey-we-have-a-future-filled-with/) [Sherrie Eldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrie-eldridge/) > [“It is a celebration of the fact that we were adopted for a purpose and that adoption is an experience that has the potential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrie-eldridge/it-is-a-celebration-of-the-fact-that-we-were-adopted-for-a-purpose/) [Sherrie Eldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrie-eldridge/) > [“...they look at adoption through rose-colored glasses, trying to make it a win/win situation for unplanned pregnancies and infertility, never giving a thought about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrie-eldridge/they-look-at-adoption-through-rose-colored-glasses-trying-to-make-it/) [Sherrie Eldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrie-eldridge/) > [“I believe one of the most sacrificial acts of love adoptive parents can do is to give up their preconceptions and agendas about what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrie-eldridge/i-believe-one-of-the-most-sacrificial-acts-of-love-adoptive-parents/) [Sherrie Eldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrie-eldridge/) > [“If we were created from the very fiber of our birth parents' physical and emotional beings, don't you think our need to think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrie-eldridge/if-we-were-created-from-the-very-fiber-of-our-birth-parents-physical/) [Sherrie Eldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrie-eldridge/) > [“Because our birth mothers made a choice for us that dramatically changed the course of our lives and over which we had no control,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrie-eldridge/because-our-birth-mothers-made-a-choice-for-us-that-dramatically/) [Sherrie Eldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrie-eldridge/) > [“Adoptive parents often say about adoption day: "It was the happiest day of our lives!" While most of us are happy to be adopted,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrie-eldridge/adoptive-parents-often-say-about-adoption-day-it-was-the-happiest-day/) [Sherrie Eldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrie-eldridge/) > [“...the advantage of having an unexpected opportunity to successfully grieve our early-life losses; to enjoy healthy relationships; to develop an unshakable sense of self-esteem;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrie-eldridge/the-advantage-of-having-an-unexpected-opportunity-to-successfully/) [Sherrie Eldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrie-eldridge/) > [“I have this deep need to bond with real blood relatives, but I feel like I'm not really a part of either of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrie-eldridge/i-have-this-deep-need-to-bond-with-real-blood-relatives-but-i-feel/) [Sherrie Eldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrie-eldridge/) [Explore all 13 Sherrie Eldridge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrie-eldridge/) ## More Adoptees quotes > [“If the system were designed to protect adoptees, why do so many have to fight for their rights?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/if-the-system-were-designed-to-protect-adoptees-why-do-so-many-have/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [I have got my story. Adoptees rarely get our stories. We only know what we are told. I don't even have my story, really.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/i-have-got-my-story-adoptees-rarely-get-our-stories-we-only-know-what/) [Mary Gauthier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gauthier/) > [“Adoption isn't just a childhood experience, it's a life-long experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/adoption-isn-t-just-a-childhood-experience-it-s-a-life-long-experience/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [“Adoptee rights are everyone's rights, and they deserve to be protected.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/adoptee-rights-are-everyone-s-rights-and-they-deserve-to-be-protected/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [“Laws forbidding adoptees from accessing their original birth certificates are outdated and need to be changed today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/laws-forbidding-adoptees-from-accessing-their-original-birth/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [Preparing a family tree is a stressful daunting task for many adoptees. Judith Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-land/preparing-a-family-tree-is-a-stressful-daunting-task-for-many/) [Judith Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-land/) > [“It's illegal to deny people their records due to race or gender. Adoptees deserve the same rights and protections.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/it-s-illegal-to-deny-people-their-records-due-to-race-or-gender/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [“There are times in every person’s life when they feel lonely, isolated, like maybe they don’t belong. For adoptees, this is often exacerbated by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-louise-stephenson/there-are-times-in-every-person-s-life-when-they-feel-lonely-isolated/) [Janet Louise Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-louise-stephenson/) > [“Destiny is not always preordained. Life is about making choices. Our lives are the sum of all the choices we make, the bridges we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-land/destiny-is-not-always-preordained-life-is-about-making-choices-our/) [Judith Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-land/) > [“Discovering that I was adopted redefined my entire world, but it taught me that who you are doesn't change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/discovering-that-i-was-adopted-redefined-my-entire-world-but-it/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [“Adoptees, whether or not they ever knew their birth parents, often describe the constant, gnawing feeling of there being something missing: without a connection,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saroo-brierley/adoptees-whether-or-not-they-ever-knew-their-birth-parents-often/) [Saroo Brierley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saroo-brierley/) > [“Adoptees deserve open records because deception and partial truths do not set us free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/adoptees-deserve-open-records-because-deception-and-partial-truths-do/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [“Being denied their original birth certificates isn't just a problem for adoptees. It's a social problem, requiring social change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/being-denied-their-original-birth-certificates-isn-t-just-a-problem/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [“Adoption is a lifelong journey. It means different things to me at different times. Sometimes it is just a part of who I am.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-dibenedetto/adoption-is-a-lifelong-journey-it-means-different-things-to-me-at/) [Kelly DiBenedetto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-dibenedetto/) [Browse all 15 Adoptees quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adoptees/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You realize you've never walked in another person's shoes. Never have. Never will. The same is true in adoption. There are three sets of adoption shoes sitting at the end of the boardwalk. The adoptees...the birth parents'...and the adoptive parents'. 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