Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Have You Hugged Your Mom/Child Today?

In the midst of all that is frightening and sad in this crazy world of ours, there come moments of beauty. I felt my heart literally fill up and soar for a dear friend, yesterday. Her reunion with her adult son has been troubled and marred with many broken promises of meetings, painful phone conversations, anger and hurt. It isn't rare and that is sad to know, but when it happens to you, it is YOUR pain.

On April 18th, after many years with no contact other than sporadic phone conversations, my friend spent her son's 44th birthday with him and it was good. She also got to know her "other" grandchildren and an adorable great-grandson. A lover of warm climates, she made the trek north into the late, spring cold and warmed her heart. It was worth the trip.

I can't convey her feelings. I imagine she will do that at some point, herself. But I know that I felt a thrill for her. She now has one of those special memories to hold inside. Her reunion, over two decades, is why I say "Never say Never." You never know what might come to pass if you go about your business of making a good life for yourself and keeping the door open for the missing loved one.

I wrote a blog the other day about an adult child being rejected by her Mother. For many years, my friend felt the sting of this rejection from her son. I dare say that the rejections were caused by the same affliction...self hatred. The problem is that the other person has to hurt for one's hatred for oneself. Those that experience this hatred of self, often prefer to live in denial and lies rather than make that fearful journey into the unknown, to self-esteem. Self-pity and emotional distance are easier to handle because those are the devils they know.

No reunion is perfect. Only the best at wearing false faces never hit roadblocks or find themselves in contention with each other. Someone likened, on FB this morning, adoption to the "mental ward of the world." Good analogy! There are more old wounds, insecurities, misinformation and confusion in this arena than you can find, even in the world of politics and that is saying something. For the most part and from my observations, I would say that we and our children have been royally screwed and they didn't even buy us dinner.

It takes courage to go back, time and time again, to try to repair the damage, create a relationship and put your emotions on the line. Most of us have learned to cherish the good moments and work through the rough times. There are no guarantees.

Two people whom I hold in high esteem, put themselves out there in the past few days. One had a successful encounter and one had heartache on a sheet of legal pad. But they both are resilient and brave and I am proud of both of them.

There are people (some of them very arrogant and self-promoting) who insist that being anti-adoption is unrealistic. They say there will always be a need for it. I see that there will always be a need for some sort of secure, child-centered way to care for children that won't mess with their identities or heritage. But nothing, NOTHING, can make me see adoption as even a necessary evil to that end. I hate it. I hate what it has done to millions of Mothers and their children. I hate that it has created a minefield out of what should be a natural and comfortable relationship.

To my Sister Mothers, to my dear Adoptee friends...Kudos for your courage in walking through the minefield. Group Hug, anyone?

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Count me in on that group hug, Robin. It warmed my heart to heart to read that my friend Mom and her son, spent his birthday together. A very special day indeed! I didn't know that they have been in reunion for two decades, of riding the emotional roller coaster that is adoption reunion. I am almost five years into mine, and I am finally starting to accept that this (the emotional pushing and pulling, the misunderstandings, misrepresentations, and the huge gap of years between me and my son and daughter) appear to be the norm in reunion. So I am learning to, as you say, appreciate the good times, and roll with the changes. It is difficult, and heart breaking, and yet worth it for moments like the one our Mom friend and son are having right now.

Real Daughter said...

I am so thrilled for her, and for those grandchildren!

Susie said...

You can certainly count me in on that group hug too!

How wonderful that another mother and son were able to come together, on his birthday no less ~ I can only imagine how wonderful that had to have been after so many years.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful news can't think of a better present
for mother and son.

Gale

Unknown said...

I can say, without reservation, that spending that oh so special day with him, seeing those young faces that look so much like people I know, and hearing from not one but two grandsons, "I love you, Grandma." made the whole 20 years worthwhile....for now.

I will be blogging about this experience for some time, Robin, since I am only beginning to process the feelings, the emotions, the thoughts, and the possibilities. I also had a friend with me, and her perceptions validate my own and I will write about that, too. Thanks for getting this started, Robin. You said it so very well.

Unknown said...

I posted a long comment and it disappeared. I hate when that happens!!!

Put me into that Group Hug thing....Thanks for getting this going Dear. I will be blogging about these feelings, thoughts, emotions and possibilities for some time to come, so thank you for starting it off so very well. So worth it!!!!

Robin said...

Got both comments, Sandy. I can't wait to talk to you again and to read your thoughts about your experience. Love and Hugs!

Anonymous said...

Robin,

Where are the top adoption blogs what do I look under
to find them?

Robin said...

http://blogfront.org/

Anonymous said...

Kitta:

I was overwhelmed...when I saw you all together...what a wonderful sight!