Vol. 11, No. 2 • May 2007

My Adoptive Parents Helped Me Get Over a Rough Start

by Rebecca, age 14

I am adopted and have been in foster care since birth. Fourteen years ago, I didn’t know what parents were for. All I knew was that you couldn’t trust them or count on them. The reason is because I was abandoned. My adoptive mother says I went from nurse to nurse and that’s why when she got me I couldn’t look at her. But the real reason was because I was afraid to be loved.

This was a major crisis in my life because everybody needs to be loved. From the smallest child to the oldest adult, everybody needs a pat on the back, a hug, and most of all, an “I love you.” But what I was suffering from was not something you could fix overnight. It took a lot of time and gentle loving care.

This is when the bad turned into the good. Even though my birth mother didn’t want me, she gave me life so that someone who couldn’t have kids could love and take care of me. As I began to realize this I came out of my shell. I began to let my adoptive mother hug me. I didn’t have to wish I would just disappear. My adoptive family wanted me.

Just like it takes a long time for a flower to grow and blossom, it’s exactly how love works. For you foster parents reading this, cheer up! Because eventually you’ll get through the tough spots and those hurting children will start to love you, too!

Rebecca received $15 for having her letter published.

Copyright � 2007 Jordan Institute for Families