Christmas and New Years! It is both a time of reflection and a time of making plans for the future. For those of you with an adoption plan, whether you are looking to adopt or looking to place a baby for adoption: What do you think about around the holidays?
It is the time when a birth mother thinks of that precious baby that she placed for adoption with the family she selected. It is a time she misses her baby and yet a time when adoptive parents are happy for the gift the birth mother gave them. It is a time when the birth mother can rest in knowing her child is fully cared for and loved and reassured of this when she receives photos and updates.
The adoptive parents reflect on the fact that without their birth mother, they would not be putting all of those toys together (and realizing just how difficult it really is). They would not be preparing for photos with Santa or enjoying the laugh of a child on Christmas morning.
There are prospective adoptive parent who may be longing for the time when a baby is in their arms. There is the prospective adoptive parent who is waiting and continuing to hope that their profile is going to jump off the pages to that right birth mother.
There are so many emotions and so many different thoughts coming and going. It may be a quick thought that comes and goes or it may be a moment of reflection accompanied with tears of sadness and/or tears of joy.
There are so many hopes for the adopted child from both sets of parents, the birth parents and the adoptive parents. It is so healthy for an adoptee to know how loved they are by so many. Although the birth parents are not with them and did not raise them, the birth parents love them deeply. They are loved. They are wanted. They have a bright future and so many rooting for their success.
Take a moment this season to reflect, to be thankful, to hug someone who needs it, to show appreciation to someone who deserves it and to affirm and express love to those around you.
Happy Holidays from all of us to all of you!