Today was the big day ONE of our adoption journey. Yes, we've already filled out the application and met with the social worker once, we attended the information session; but it wasn't until today that I felt like we've jumped feet or head first into this...more like a tumble, end over end. But an amazing feeling to know that walking out of that agency today, that we had landed our first tumble, conquered it even. We spent an amazing 6 hours surrounded by other families in all walks of life and two amazing social workers that eat, sleep and breathe adoption every single day of their lives.
We met a birthmother today -- the first we've met thus far and I don't think the agency could have chosen a better person to come and speak to us. She did more than allay all of our fears that our future child would be coming from a 15 year old "crack-whore" who could name 1/2 a dozen people as possible birth fathers and planned to be giving birth in a prison. Dramatic? YES -- but maybe not. The Lifetime movies I grew up secretly watching, depicted every birth mother in this light, and made them all seem like they were either too lazy to parent, not smart enough to make another plan or just didn't care. Today's birthmother was an amazing woman in her early twenties with more insight on her own life and the world around her than many adults that I know. She told us of a journey, not only that led her to creating an adoption plan for her child, but the wonderful bond that she has with the adoptive family. She's a strong, independent woman who, even years after making her plan, still gets choked up when talking about it. She's a real birthmother.
I'm left with a lingering thought from both the social workers and the birthmother, "go forward with eyes wide open". No matter where this process takes us, we must continue with eyes, hearts and mind wide open.
No comments:
Post a Comment