I have to admit that I'm a little nervous about this playdate. I have no idea who, if anyone, is going to show up, or if my kid is going to like them.
Back in 2000, Wendy Kramer and her son started this website with the hope that children conceived with the help of a sperm donor could make connections with their siblings regardless of whether or not they knew who their donor was. As of today, the site has over 1200 members (and scads more lurkers, myself included) and has made over 5000 sibling matches. The site is simple to navigate and allows parents to search using several different criteria, depending on what they might know about their donor. It also provides helpful information about how to talk with your children about their conception story, and what you might expect in terms of a relationship with a donor, should you find him (the site has facilitated a number of sucessful donor-offspring matches). You can also let people know that you are looking for more vials of a particuar donor's goods, or that you have extras available, which makes the site sort of a Craig's List for sperm.
The Donor Sibling Registry is, without a doubt, a great resource for people who want to make genetic connections for their children. But let me tell you what I worry about (because by now I'm sure you've realized that there's always something I'm worried about): kids going on the site without their parents. While the Registry's policy states that it exists for parents and children over the age of 18, the use of the site cannot be regulated. I worry about teenagers searching without their parents and then becoming confused and overwhelmed with the information they find. Still, as someone who believes wholeheartedly in abandoning the secrecy that has historically dominated in the world of donor-conceived children, I am all for this site. Hell, I might even register my success stories one of these days.
