Story Tellers

Over the past couple of weeks, M & B are starting to share more stories. More of *their* stories. Stories of resilience, bravery and courage. Stories that bring tears to our eyes, and send shivers up our spines.  B has always been willing to share, and as she has acquired more English language skills, the stories have become more detailed.  B remembers every. single. detail.  I am not sure if that is a good thing. Or would selective memory help heal her, as I think it has her brother. Time will tell.  M, on the other hand, shares less personal stories, but his stories are his to share. We are starting to be able to piece together a timeline, something that I have wanted to be able to do for them, and for us, since we first met them a little over one year ago.

Last week, they spent hours sharing stories with us, one at a time, beginning with, “Can I tell you a story….One day…..”  Muse has been fairly silent, until now. One year home, maybe?  Having confidence that he isn’t going anywhere, and that we are his forever family. Maybe?  Or could it be that last weekend, he was reunited with his very best friend.  His best friend from their village.  Back in December, I showed M & B pictures that I had found from time spent in the first orphanage. They quickly pointed out a little boy, and told us that his home was right next to theirs.  I knew I had to find this little boy’s family.  And, I did.  As it turns out, like Little A, he only lives an hour away from us. Our children have been able to reconnect with not only their little sister, but also their best friend.  How incredibly amazing is that?  Yes, we are that lucky.

I have a feeling that our next adoption will be very different. I have become such an advocate of sibling adoption, and could give you a hundred reasons why I think it is a great thing. And, I also understand and respect the decision to adopt a single child, as we have decided to do this time around (oh, don’t think for a second that I didn’t try to talk Doug into siblings again). I worry that he will feel left out. I worry that he will recognize the bond of bio siblings, and their sister, Little A. I worry that one day, he will grow up and ask why we didn’t adopt his sibling(s) like we did with M & B. All of the questions, all of the worry, all of the anxiety....it all comes with being parents, regardless of how our family was created.