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I am About to Cry
By Christina S.
I am an adoptive mother of a beautiful 8-year old girl. My daughter had bounced around in 5 different
foster homes before she was 5 years old. Some of the professionals expressed concerns that she may
not be able to fully attach to us given all the moves and trauma she experienced. However, we found
that over time, with patience, love, and consistency, she learned to trust us more and definitely
learn to attach to us. We saw this especially after she experienced adoption milestones (e.g. at 18
months when she had lived with us longer than she had lived with any other family).
Well, one morning, I surprised her with a little gift. I framed a large postcard she liked that had a
picture of a cute dog (the one that the Post Office has on their "pets" stamps) and set it out for
her to see when she came down for breakfast. She was so overwhelmed by this small gesture of love - I
think she was moved that I really paid attention to what is important to her - that she covered her
face with her hands and kept repeating quietly, "I don't believe it… I don't believe it." She then
sat down and wrote me this poem:
The time has come
It has opened my heart
Sweet of all I love
Rose mine
I am about to cry
I love you."
Written by Sharonda S., age 7 to her mom.
She writes "I am about to cry." I have the same reaction every time I read this poem. I hope that
other adoptive parents of older children will feel encouraged by this poem, to know that children can
heal, and that they are definitely key in helping their children to heal.
