Everybody Loves Me!

Our last post was all about the wonders of fall and the promise of a new year, but now I am taking a minute to reminisce about the wonders of summer.  Of course, as an educator, my summers are generally very relaxed.  This summer was no different, but it seems to hold a special place in my heart.  After a relatively rough year of infertility, we were able to fully relax, be renewed by the promise of adoption, and spend quality time with family and friends without the distractions that had plagued us over the last year. 

Some of the most memorable time this summer was the time I spent with a good friend--a friend I've known since college, with whom I have traveled the world and shared tubs of ice cream, tears, and endless laughs.  This summer, I shared a special time with her as she welcomed her brand new baby boy into her family.  As a rule, Erik and I both try to give our time, energy, and a helping hand to others whenever we can and this summer, I could.  Quite a unique situation, my friend and her family found themselves in the surprising, but incredible position of welcoming a new baby through adoption.  In a matter of weeks, they went from a family of three to a family of four, with two boys 17 months apart!  So I was there--spending quality time with the oldest boy as he adjusted to his new sibling, helping to push the double stroller through the park, watching the boys while mom took a minute to shower.  This time was invaluable time with a good friend, but also time that reinforced the beauty of adoption over and over again.

On one trip to stock up for her brand new baby, I saw something I couldn't resist - this cute onesie!  Why?

Because of the message.  The message that wisely included EVERYBODY.  The rest of the aisles were lined with bibs and blankets proclaiming "Mommy Loves Me" or "Daddy's Little Monster," but this onesie, complete with adorable giraffes, sensibly stated "EVERYBODY LOVES ME."  My friend and I talked about how we loved the message and later, once I revealed my new purchase to hubs, we reflected on what this will mean to our future family.

It was one little onesie, but in a few words, it summed up one of the most important lessons we wish to teach our future child.  Indeed, it represented the primary message we want to share with the child and birth family alike.  For the child that joins our family, it is important to us that they know the love of everyone that surrounds them--parents, friends, family, and birth family.  We will always recognize that it was love that brought them into the world, love that brought them into our family, and love that will sustain them and our family.  

Erik and I look forward to building a positive and constructive open adoption.  While we know that the type of open adoption we have will be borne of a mutual agreement between birth parents and adoptive parents, we also know that no matter what that ends up looking like we will always teach our child the incredible love of all involved.  That love is all-encompassing and never ending and as such, should always be communicated and celebrated.  It is this very message, that "EVERYBODY LOVES ME"  that we hope to help our child fully understand, appreciate, and carry in their heart for a lifetime.

As we look forward to our future meeting with a birth parent, birth parents, or an entire birth family there will always be apprehension, we assume for both parties.  But in the end, we know that the family we are paired with will share our dream of helping that very special little one feel all the love that surrounds them.  Indeed, our family will be defined, more that anything else, by love.  Here's hoping we find those somebodies to share our lives with!