My decision to search is not a reflection of you as a parent. I didn't decide to search for my biological family because you somehow failed me as a parent.
I did not decide to search because you as a parent were not enough.
In fact, although my decision to search certainly affects you, it actually has very little to do with you.
My decision to search is primarily due to the innate, inherent desire of every human being to want to know from whom and where we began.
My decision to search has more to do with the natural and normal longing to know one's origins, one's history, to answer such basic questions as, "Who am I?" or "Why am I the way I am?"
It's not that your love as a parent was not enough, it was simply that your love can not answer the questions that linger and hover over me. Your love cannot tell me why my original parents relinquished me. Your love cannot tell me what happened. Your love cannot give me the answers that have eluded me all of my life.
Only searching can help me to face these questions. And although I may not find the answers that I seek, I hope to find more of who I am along the way.
The best thing you can do is to understand that my desire to search is not about you as a parent. The best thing you can do is to be there for me, to let me know that you're not going anywhere, that you're secure enough in our relationship to let me take this journey.
The best thing you can do is to let go, while continuing to love me, knowing that although your love cannot answer all the questions I have, it can be a source of strength.
The best thing you can do is to not pull away or feel threatened by my desire to know more.
I am not leaving you in search of a new family. I am holding onto you as I search for the ones who--not unlike you--made me the person I am today.
9 comments:
Aptly put! As a parent who has adopted I firmly believe that it is my responsibility to present to my darling princess honest answers to who she is. I was not adopted but not knowing my paternal grandfather's background left me with unanswered questions. Imagine my surprise when I find out through the census that I am one quarter Jewish (primary language spoken at home - Hebrew). Living a community that has a large Jewish population, I find myself asking more question, curious on so many levels. Maybe this was to prepare my heart for the journey I will embark with my princess--to be open, to understand just a tiny bit of the emotions of her heart.
Thanks, Melissa for your comment, and your understanding! Indeed, your personal experience does allow you insight into what your daughter is experiencing...
I don't usually post, but I thought this was just such an important post. Thanks! Can I link it?
Oops, I meant "I don't usually comment."
Thanks for asking, JaeRan. You're so considerate. I understand why you asked, but, please know that I don't ever have a problem with you linking things. :) Go right ahead.
I like it.
I think that perhaps because some of the most vocal searchers, at least in my experience, are unhappy or have difficulties with their adoptive families, this becomes the general perception of the reason for wanting to search. But it's not always so.
Thank you for your eloquent post! We decided to search for our son's firstmother (adopted from Guatemala) so that he could have exactly these answers as he grows up. Seeing his smile on her face was a remarkable experience.
art-sweet, thanks for stopping by...and thank you for not being afraid to allow your son to know his origins...
I am an adult adoptee aged 50. I searched and found my birthmother 16 years ago and have had a wonderful relationship. However, my adoptive mother has never accepted or supported my actions till this day. She is now 82 and our relationship is marred by her ongoing resentment. It tears me apart as she is my mum, I love her dearly yet I cannot make her understand why I had to find out who I truly was. To her I did the 'unforgivable', I 'betrayed' her, I was 'ungrateful'. She feels she failed as parent despite me continually telling she has not. She has not even tried to understand & I doubt at now 82 we will ever resolve the issue. Her hurt hurts me deeply & is on going. I've searched everywhere for help for her but little is available for adoptive parents - it is all geared towards the birthmother. I'm so glad I found your website & hope to show her some of the comments from other adoptive parents. I don't know if it will help but I have to try.
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