Mother's Day in the Adoption Triangle

As Mother's Day approaches, I am reminded of that May Sunday in 1971. It was just two short months after my daughter's birth.

I'm sure I at the very least bought my mother a card. Two of my brothers and my sister came to visit with flowers and gifts. My niece and nephews were there.

It was a typical Mother's Day celebration, and none of the adults showed any sign of awareness, that maybe....just maybe I might be experiencing a measure of sadness. I dared not speak of my grief to my parents and risk ruining my mother's special day. Perhaps I called one of my friends from the 'home.' We would have comforted each other. We would have cried.

Still, on that day and every Mother's Day since, I have thought of the woman who was raising my little girl, and I uttered a heartfelt "thank you." Two little words that come nowhere near the expression of my gratitude. I have never been able to adequately do so, no matter the number of words I choose.

For more than two decades I have known this lovely lady. Every year on Mother's Day, one of us picks up the phone and we wish each other the best of days. I thank her for the loving care she gave to our girl, and she thanks me for the girl herself.