Statement of Adoptive Parent
April 8, 1983I desire to adopt Laura for several reasons. The foremost reason is that I have come to love Laura as I love my own children. I am concerned for her welfare and well being. I share her joys of success and sadness of failure. Another reason for her adoption is that I want to support Laura in a legal sense but also in an emotional sense. I want her to know that she is a part of our family as are our other children. I want her to be aware of my commitment to her, both legal and emotional.
Laura is a beautiful child. She is pretty and intelligent. She is fully aware that she has two fathers (her natural father died when she was 2 1/2 years old). His death was sad and is difficult for her to understand though time has helped her reorder her life. I want to complete her family order and continue the healing process that has helped her to feel secure and loved. I request that I be allowed to adopt Laura and care for her as my own.
~My Dad
This is the chapter of my life that I’ve been waiting to write about. The year that I turned eight was life-changing for me. Not only was I baptized, but I was adopted by my dad. For the beginning of our story, see my previous post, What I Don’t Remember.
I do remember being adopted. I remember the excitement of taking a day off school to drive down to meet with the judge. I remember him asking me questions and my parents signing papers. I remember taking pictures outside the courthouse before heading back home. I remember that I felt very loved.
I still do.
I’m sure my eighth year was full of exciting things (like my baptism and the birth of my sister, Andrea) but none stand out in my mind as vividly as the day I was adopted.
Is there a moment in your youth that stands out as one of the most important days of your life?
I’m recording my youth, one year per week. Come back next week to find out what life was like in 4th grade (age nine).
PS–Today I am guest posting over at Live and Love…Out Loud. If you’ve never visited Kristi’s blog, you’ve got to stop by today and check it out. A fellow mother of many (four!) and lover of photography…..I adore Kristi! You should follow her on twitter (@Tweetingmama), too. Plus, I had a lot of fun writing my Pros and Cons of Parenting Tweens and Teens. I’ll feel extra special if you leave me a comment over there today. Thanks!
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What a wonderful story! Brought some tears to my eyes. Unfortunately I had a horrible childhood…but I have a wonderful life now so that is what really matters.
Janna, You are so right! In fact, my two earthly fathers (one on in heaven and one on earth) helped me SO much as a teenager understand my relationship with my Heavenly Father. It was a very powerful lesson for me.
Kristi, I LOVE what you said about the CHOICE of an adoptive father, taking on his new wife’s child(ren). Beautiful!!
BEAUTIFUL!!! Your post helps me understand just how special it is to be adopted by our heavenly father as well.
What a blessing to read about this day! Thanks Laura!
What a beautiful story!
Whaaaaa ;( That’s so sweet! :) You’ve got me all chocked up Lolli.
Wow! What a great story! I love your dad’s letter. It’s very touching and you can feel his love for you. What a wonderful man.
There’s something to be said of man who chooses to be in a child’s life. Though the love of a father for his new baby girl is the same as that of a father for the little girl he adopted. Both are as strong, but only one was a conscious, well-thought out, jumping feet first kind of a choice. I admire that about your adoptive father. And my husband as well. (He hasn’t legally adopted the kids yet, but…) He chose to marry this single mother of 3 just a few short years ago. He welcomed me and my children into his heart and we’ve been blessed since. It’s so nice to read about the experience from your point of view, as a daughter.
Kristi, Live and Love…Out lOud
@TweetingMama
Your dad’s letter is absolutely beautiful. What a great dad! I love this story, it made me smile :)
I can’t say that adoption has effected me personally…yet. My husband and I hope to adopt one day. When we first went to the adoption agency and I began to think about it, I began realize how much adoption was in my family. Both of my grandfathers were adopted. My uncle is adopted. 2 of my great uncles have adopted children (3 between the two of them). And for as long as I can remember, since I was a little girl, I’ve wanted to adopt.
Thanks so much for sharing this!
Jenn
Group 2
That is priceless. I love the pictures too. :)
I was adopted at birth by both my parents. I wonder if they said something similar. My older brother (not blood related) was adopted too.
I’m glad I’m your sister, too! I remember mom being REALLY pregnant with you. LOL. A lot of big things happened for me that year!
I’ve never read that letter! It’s beautiful, and I loved seeing the pictures. Mom is totally pregnant with me in that first picture. Thanks for the shout out that I helped make your eighth year interesting. I’m glad you’re my sister!
I’m so glad I could make your day! I love how many people I am finding today who have been effected (in a good way) by adoption in one form or another. It makes me happy!
What a beautiful post with sincerity and concern by your Dad for you as a person. Also what beautiful memories for you, too.
Our oldest son was adopted as an infant. We later had two children the traditional way. We love all three the same and have every day of their lives.
Thanks so much for sharing. You’ve made my day!
I think you’re right. For an 8 year old, getting out of school when 100% healthy, dressing up on a week day, and getting lunch out with mom and dad is a huge deal! :)
Isn’t it amazing how vivid meeting with the judge to finalize adoption can be? I still remember the three times I participated in that with my brothers and sisters. (Maybe it has something to do with getting out of school and dressing up on a weekday.) I’m so glad yours are good memories.
I could have sworn that we had talked about it before! Yes, eight was a big year for both of us. Yours was much sadder than mine. It’s very unfortunate when kids lose their parents so young. :(
I hope it was a good cry. :) Because my adoption story is nothing but happy for me. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
I think adoption is a beautiful thing, whether a child is adopted at birth or later. My story is a little different since I was still with my mom, but I feel nothing but love for my dad adopting me.
Luckily for me, I was already using my adopted dad’s last name, so there wasn’t any change there for me.
I can’t believe you got in trouble for saying Yeah to the judge! I love that we have similar adoption stories (at least on the surface). :) It really is a special thing to remember.
I didn’t know you were adopted when you were eight, or that your biological father died when you were so small. Eight was a big year for me, too. (Getting baptized and my mom died).
What a great thing to remember! :)
What a beautiful memory to share!
Oh how the tears came unbiddingly to my eyes and streamed down my cheeks as I read this.
Thank you for sharing your heart. I somehow missed the first post and am off to read it.
xo*tricia
What a very sweet memory!
This is a beautiful story Lottie. Thanks so much for writing it. I am not myself adopted, but we are adoptive parents. We adopted our oldest at birth (he’s now almost 8) and I can’t imagine life without him. Great post!
My dad adopted me too.
It was the summer between 4th and 5th grade.
I entered 5th grade with a new last name. It was hard for everybody to understand. I was embarrassed but proud of my name change.
I remember the ugly dress my mom made me wear to the courthouse.
The judge asked me a question, and I replied, “Yeah.” because I was so nervous. I got in trouble. I cried and told him I was nervous. His sterness broke, and he smiled. I relaxed and continued to answer his questions with a “yes, sir.” or “no, sir.”
It’s a powerful thing; adoption. Whether you’re a child getting two new parents to love you, or just adding one. It changes your whole life.