In 1994 I attended the 25th class reunion from my grammar school. That evening I was awarded a "prize" for having the most children. You see I have adopted all of my children. One of the gentlemen at my table (who I had a MAJOR crush on in the third grade) made a comment about me having my children "the easy way." Needless to say, I immediately straightened him out about how difficult it is to adopt a child, especially being a single parent, and that the entire process can be challenging to say the least.
That being said, I am very happy to announce that I have once again adopted a child. Well, actually my son is a teenager and I couldn't be any happier! He is a great kid, wonderful athlete, and a terrific son. Each adoption brings many wonderful feelings, the most important-how blessed I am to have these children in my life! I can't image how boring and empty my life would be without my children in it.
The beginning of the year we were asked to state our resolutions for 2009. What were we going to try to accomplish that we have either been too busy to work on, or just putting off? Well, my resolution is to attempt to start a family tree on each of my children's birth parents and their birth families. Not an easy task I know. When I adopted most of my children I received very little information about their birth parents. I learned the birth parents names and ages and some medical history but not much more information. Illinois still recognizes "closed" adoptions. Illinois will not share any information on the adoption. Nothing. When my children turn eighteen years old they can register with one or more of the national adoption registries and perhaps find their birth parents that way.
Currently, three of my children still remain in contact with their birth families to some degree which benefits all of us. Unfortunately for three of my other children (all siblings) finding out any information about their birth families and locating them is proving very difficult indeed.
I continue to be amazed at how much you can love these children who come into your life at different times for many different reasons. All looking for someone to love them and take care of them. Believe me, I get so much more back in return. I truly am very blessed!
P.S. The answer is seven!
4 comments:
Bless you, Pat! That is amazing. You are truly a very special woman and those "kids" are lucky to have you!
Thank you Becky for your kind comment, but really I am the lucky one! pam
Congratulations on the new adoption, Pam! I'm very happy for you :-)
Congratulations, Pam, on your new son. I love how you are tracing your children's biological lines. In my family, I have many adopted cousins and my paternal grandmother is an adoptee. I also have a niece that was adopted out of the family, but through the open adoption process, so we still have contact with her several times a year, and her adoptive family is considered a part of our extended one. Adoption has enlarged and enriched our family and our lives! I'm sure this holds true for you.
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