Just before my 86th birthday, my kids Emily and Ethan told me something very shocking. They were eager to get in touch with Amanda, their real mother, who had been looking for them for many years. Their interest made me feel a range of feelings.
Before we adopted our twins, my husband Kevin and I had trouble getting pregnant. We worked hard to raise them, and they did very well. Emily did really well in sports, and Ethan did really well in school. Our children became my rock after Kevin died.
It all changed when Amanda wrote the letter. Emily and Ethan asked us why we hadn’t told anyone about their adoption. It wasn’t my goal to hide the truth; I told them I was just going to focus on our love and support.
They didn’t celebrate my birthday with me; instead, they went to see Amanda. I had a strong sense of loss and wondered if our family tie would be called into question.
But just as the day was ending, the doorbell rang. With cake in hand, Emily and Ethan stood in front of me and sang “Happy Birthday.” As they gave me a warm hug and said sorry for being away, tears ran down my face.
In private, they talked about how they didn’t trust Amanda’s goals and how self-centred she seemed. Still, they told me again how much they loved and were loyal to me.
Because of this, I learnt that family ties can last through even the hardest news. It got better as Emily and Ethan showed more love and respect for our relationship.
It occurred to me that adoption wasn’t just about making a family; it was also about building love, trust, and understanding. Through tears, laughs, and the ups and downs of life, we formed an unbreakable bond.
In the end, I realised that telling the truth, no matter how hard it was, made our bond stronger. The love and dedication of my children were the best gifts I could have asked for, and I loved them more than anything else.
