Love and acceptance are not automatic when it comes to children. Sure, many of us feel as it if is automatic, and sure, it should be. In this generation, more and more struggle to feel it.
Take my daughter, for example. I met her when she was seven years old. She was a beautiful little girl with a wild spirit and an even louder scream. She was loved, adored even by many.
As she grew up, in my household, her biological mother became distant. She didn’t seek her out, visit her, or even want to hear about what was going on in her life. This led to discontent with her life. She was abandoned by the one person in the world who was never supposed to leave her.
As time went on, her brothers grew older and moved away. She grew into a beautiful woman. She was hurting, I believe, but she hid it from us. Probably because of all the other things going on in our life.
Just last year, however, after she turned 18, she graduated high school. Her biological mother attended the event, and after seeing her briefly, she had made a decision. She wanted me to adopt her.
Many think that adopting a child who is legally adult is silly. What is the point? You can’t claim them on your taxes, you can’t make medical decisions, it doesn’t give you any rights. Why would you?
I’ll tell you why. Because she wanted me to. We sat her down and explained the consequences of adoption and then had a lawyer do the same thing. She wanted it. She wanted the love and acceptance. She wanted to be assured that there was always someone who was going to be there for her. Someone who wanted her.
I have never looked back. She is a source of pride for me and always will be. She is my strong daughter.
chronicallymother 