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Who Got Lucky?

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Contributed by: Maggie Brooks on 4/14/2008

Frequently, when I am in public with my children, our presence seems to generate curiosity . After all, if one of them belongs to me then it seems to logically follow that one of the others must not, because they don't all look alike. All three of my children are adopted. We adopted some through private means and some through the foster care system. When I choose to tell someone that tidbit of information, then very often a statement most befuddling to me results. "Well," the person will frequently say, " She/he sure is a lucky kid." Lucky to have ended up in foster care? Lucky to have been torn from their family of origin through no fault of their own? I know that most likely what they mean is that my child is one of the lucky ones to have been rescued from a lifetime of shuffling from home to home. I can't argue with that, but I feel a little guilty to agree with them. Why? Because I know who really got lucky. My husband and I are the ones that hit the jackpot. When we took some of our kids in they were grieving and their pain masked their identities. Now, we often say to them: "How come Mommy and Daddy got the three best kids on the planet?." They are like gifts that we get to open slowly every day. As they healed and attached, they became whole people with opinions and talents and interests. We became a family and together formed a haven where we huddle together against the world and a safe launching pad from which to explore the world. We have the privilege of experiencing the unfolding of their adventures first- hand. Without them, we would be childless. Without them we would be a small family indeed. I guess the one thing I wish to convey to anyone observing my life from the outside is that my relationship with my children is a very mutual thing. I did not take them in to save them. I took them in because I wanted them. If anything, they saved me from the death of one of my deepest longings: motherhood. So, yes, my children are very lucky, we are very lucky, but truly I am the luckiest one of all.

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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Maggie Brooks

Longmont , CO

Maggie Brooks has posted 4 stories and 3 comments since joining on 4/24/2006. Maggie Brooks 's average story rating is 4.

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