I had long struggled with the idea of adoption as a second choice — pregnancy being the default setting and thus, first choice. After all, I had ended up in exactly the right place. I wouldn’t want my family to be any different than who we are. But how to explain this to my children, who are likely to ask questions in the coming years?
Through the Barren Bitches Book Brigade, I came across Melissa at Stirrup Queens, who addresses the term “second” as a chronological term rather than an ordinal term.
Was Roger my first choice as a husband? Well, considering I kissed a few frogs before I even met him, Roger wasn’t chronologically my first choice. I wonder how my life would be now if I’d ended up with Alan, the boy who helped me collect worms one day when we were 8. Or Doug, the disk jockey turned radio-mogul, or Brad-the-farmer or Clay-the-slacker or Iain-the-commitment-phobe.
Roger was definitely my best choice. But I meandered to get to him. The meandering is what made me worthy of him and appreciative of him.
It’s oddly coincidental. Tessa developed her first crush this week during Vacation Bible School. She is smitten with a boy double her age, a 6th grader named Cory. She dressed for him, had me braid her hair for him, talked incessantly about him, and dreamed of him. She claims she’ll marry him.
Not very likely. Cory may be her first, but what matters is the last. That’s the keeper.
Just like Tessa, and just like Reed. My meandering to them is what makes me worthy of them. The process of our family forming was absolutely the best choice, even if we started out not knowing that.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
There’s a reason why you always find something in the last place you look for it! Here’s to finding what’s been missing!
Very, very VERY well said!
Thanks, Violet and Mel.Ready for you cyber-mojitos? It’s Friday, after all.Lori
I love that line: Cory may be her first but what matters is her last. Three cheers for those who come after the twists and turns.
It’s very helpful to read what you’ve written. And thank you for the nice note you left me.
when you say things like this, you make me fall in love with you all over again, luz.
This is a great perspective on adoption following infertility…. I mean, from someone who has no idea what that struggle must feel like. It helps me GET what you mean, what you likely feel, and what you wrap your brain around as you deal with it all. Thanks for such a brilliant word picture – crystal clear
The Gang’s Momma recently said ..To Fund Raise Or Not To Fund Raise?