The following is an unpublished story I wrote for a creative writing assignment–but mostly for my daughter. I hope it will be helpful for other families.
“NO!” said Gina. She stamped her foot.
“What’s wrong?” Daddy asked.
“No-o-o,” Gina whined.
Daddy looked tired. “Use your words,” he said.
“Unh!” said Gina. She couldn’t remember all her words. She just wanted Daddy to make it all better now.
“I know!” said her big sister. “Let’s look at her special pictures from when she came home!”
Gina’s brother brought the big album. Mommy opened it to the pictures of Daddy meeting Gina for the first time. “These are the happiest pictures I have of your daddy,” she said. “He was so happy to meet his Gina-girl.”
Daddy did look happy in the pictures. He was lifting Gina high over his head and smiling a great big wide smile.
Gina pointed at the book. “Sad Gina,” she said.
In the pictures of Daddy lifting her up Gina looked like she was feeling okay, but the next picture definitely was a crying Gina. Daddy was handing her back to her foster father.
“Yes, you were a little scared and sad because you didn’t know Daddy then,” said Mommy. “Your foster family was taking good care of you and loving you until Daddy came to bring you home.”
“Happy Gina,” said Gina, pointing to the last picture. It was of Gina sitting in her foster mother’s lap, with her foster father on one side of her and Daddy on the other. Her foster grandmother and foster cousin were there too.
“Lots of people loved Gina,” said Mommy. “And Mommy and Daddy get to love you and be your parents forever and ever.”
“Gina, Mommy, Daddy!” said Gina, pointing at the family picture above the fireplace. She pointed to her brother and sister sitting next to her, then to her brother and sister in the picture. “Same, same!” said Gina.
“That’s right, Gina,” said her brother. “That picture was taken after Daddy brought you home to our house.”
“Our house,” repeated Gina.
Everybody nodded.
“Gina home now,” said Gina. “Happy Gina.”
Please see these related blogs:
How to Tell a Young Child that He Is Adopted