Vol. 12, No. 1• November 2007

Why is adoption important to me?

by Michael, age 8

It is important because I want and need a good and safe family. Where I used to stay was not that safe. I like my new safe home and my new safe adoptive family. The special part of my family is that I have two moms, and that makes my brothers and I have a lot of love.

There are seven people in my home: 2 moms, 4 brothers, 2 dogs, and me. I like my new big family. My old family was not safe because there was a lot of fighting.

When I first came into foster care I felt OK. I thought was being babysat. I liked the new house, the new people, the new school. I didn’t like seeing the people I used to see. I felt sad and mad.

When I realized I might not be going back [home] I felt sad. I did things to misbehave. I did and said things to scare my foster moms. I even tried to hurt their feelings and get them in trouble. That is when I realized they loved me—because they didn’t send me away to another home.

This is new for me, and they are working with me. Although I had never lived in another foster home, I knew I loved them, too. I told my social worker that I didn’t want to leave.

When I finally heard I was staying I felt happy, great, excited, calm, motionless. The day I was fighting against had finally come. I was shocked but yet very happy to have a forever family.

Michael received $15 for having his essay published.

Copyright � 2007 Jordan Institute for Families