As you all know (if you've been following along) Rachel saw her younger biological brother back on the eighth of this month. Before this, it had been over two years since she last saw him when she came to live with us forever on May 29th, 2007. For the past year Rachel had been ready to see both of her biological siblings, but I had been told that they were not ready. Honestly, it was frustrating to me because Rachel had worked so hard to come to a place of forgiveness and acceptance so that she could be reunited with them (in the right frame of mind) and it seemed like it was never going to happen. But now I see that the wait was good and a lot of healing took place in those past two years for not only her but for her younger brother---- and the visit was a success! In my opinion, the visit could not have gone better with her younger brother---- they even wore the same colored shirts----- and that wasn't planned.
A few of my other kids joined us in the park so that the visit would not be confrontational (one on one) and that was great. My younger boys really didn't understand the relationship between us and them because we get together with so many families, and as we were getting ready to go, William asked if Samuel (Rachel's brother) could come over sometime and spend the night. Of course, I had said no, not today, but in my heart of hearts, I do hope something like that is in our future.
On the way home, I was halfway expecting Rachel to be on emotional overload......... but she wasn't. She was very thankful that I had kept my word to her, and our relationship never even skipped a beat (but a year ago, I'm certain it would have). Rachel was ready for this meeting. Her younger brother was ready for this meeting too. But, Rachel did not get to see her older brother who was not ready. Surprisingly, that bummed me out more than her......... I guess I should have listened to myself better when I explained to Rachel why he was not ready and that she just needed to give him more time.
I took a few pictures, had a chance to talk with Rachel's previous Mom, and was happy to hear that she was in a much better place since the disruption. I emailed them the pictures today, and hopefully Rachel's older brother will see his two siblings standing next to each other smiling, and decide to be in the next picture with them.
11 inspiring thoughts:
I'm a new reader to your blog, but I just wanted to say I'm glad things went well with the meeting! I took my daughter back to Guatemala last year to meet her birthfamily and it went well. She'll seem them again in December so I'm hoping she's ok wiht it again because she'll be 4!
This is so awesome, I was praying that this meeting would go well for her. She is such a sweet spirit, you can see it in her eyes and her beautiful smile.
i'm glad it went so well! my only question is how you think this will impact Rachel long term. how do you all refer to the brother? as her brother? i guess i'm just trying to understand how this all works in YOUR eyes... i was afraid that Rachel would come out of this meeting thinking "that's my REAL brother" and start to look at you all as her adoptive family rather than just simply her family. (which obviously you are her adoptive family, but you're her REAL family.) it looks like that hasn't been the case, which i'm thankful for... i'm just wondering what your thoughts are on that & how you're handling all of this.
- michelle
So happy to hear that it went well for Rachel and her younger brother and that it was a positive visit.
I was wondering if you were going to post about it. Glad it went well for her.
So glad it went well!
Oh that is very good news. I am so glad it went so well.
How was the other mom's reception to her? I would have been more concerned about that. Maybe her feeling insecure or feeling placed back in an old situation that was difficult.
So VERY happy, she was happy. :)
I´m so glad it went well for both of them. And particularly that Rachel is at peace with it all, that´s wonderful! I can´t even begin to imagine the emotions that would be caused by a situation like this, and I am so very impressed that at her age she is able to deal with them.
I'm so happy to hear it went so well!
Hi Christine!
I'm so glad that this visit worked out for everyone. Kudos to Rachel for taking everything in without too many challenges! I know that you are very proud Mama!
I'm so pleased.
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