I'm adopted. I have known it all my life. I'm fine with that, most of the time. There are times I wonder who my ancestors are. What were they like? Who do I look like? It would also be helpful to know medical history. When asked if anybody in my family has any chronic health conditions, I have to say, I don't know. I'm adopted.
The only information I have on my parents is 4 pages I received through LDS Social Services. It's not a lot of information, but at least it's some.
The only information I have on my parents is 4 pages I received through LDS Social Services. It's not a lot of information, but at least it's some.
This is my adoption story. I was born at the Cottonwood Hospital in Murray, Utah. My birth mother was quite young and gave me up for adoption. When she gave birth to me, they took me from her before she found out if she gave birth to a boy or a girl. I was kept in the hospital for several days, because my adoptive parents (from here on out will always and forever be known as my parents) were in California for my Aunt Beth's wedding. When they came back into town with my older brother David (who's adopted too), they came and picked me up and took me home.
People always ask me what it is like to be adopted; I never know what to say to that. People also ask when I found out I was adopted. I think I was lucky because my parents always told me and my brother that we were adopted- it was never a surprise. I never felt different than my siblings- I was just adopted.
People ask if I would like to find my birth mother, and if I did, what would I say to her? My birth mother is the person who gave me life. I never knew her, and I could never think of her as my mother. I think it would be interesting if I ever did meet her. I would ask her about my ancestors; and definitely about my medical history. I would also tell her thank you for giving me life. She could have taken a pill, or physically aborted me, but she chose to give me life. She knew she couldn't raise me on her own. I don't think of it as abandonment, but her choice to give me a better life. Her one request was for me to go to a family that had lots of food. I take that as her coming from a poor household where food wasn't always there. The life she gave me has been a great one. And I am very grateful for it!
As I grew older, people around me would treat me differently. They noticed that I was different and liked to point it out to me. Here are some of my thoughts I wrote down.
People always ask me what it is like to be adopted; I never know what to say to that. People also ask when I found out I was adopted. I think I was lucky because my parents always told me and my brother that we were adopted- it was never a surprise. I never felt different than my siblings- I was just adopted.
People ask if I would like to find my birth mother, and if I did, what would I say to her? My birth mother is the person who gave me life. I never knew her, and I could never think of her as my mother. I think it would be interesting if I ever did meet her. I would ask her about my ancestors; and definitely about my medical history. I would also tell her thank you for giving me life. She could have taken a pill, or physically aborted me, but she chose to give me life. She knew she couldn't raise me on her own. I don't think of it as abandonment, but her choice to give me a better life. Her one request was for me to go to a family that had lots of food. I take that as her coming from a poor household where food wasn't always there. The life she gave me has been a great one. And I am very grateful for it!
As I grew older, people around me would treat me differently. They noticed that I was different and liked to point it out to me. Here are some of my thoughts I wrote down.
A Child's Plea
Extending out a friendly hand.
Why do they turn and walk away?
It's the color of my skin.
Use your Heart, not your Eyes.
I am just like you.
How can I help you understand?
That Beauty lies in our Differences.
Extending out a friendly hand.
Why do they turn and walk away?
It's the color of my skin.
Use your Heart, not your Eyes.
I am just like you.
How can I help you understand?
That Beauty lies in our Differences.