She was a seventeen-year-old with love on her mind. Her nice-looking boyfriend convinced her that he would be around forever. They would marry. They would grow old together.
It was the same song and dance you’ve heard a hundred times.
But promises changed when she developed morning sickness.
She broke the news to him on a school night. They were in the car together.
“I’m pregnant,” she said.
He didn’t answer. He only stared forward and grit his teeth. He called her a bad name. He told her he didn’t want any “damn baby.”
It shattered her. It was her baby.
She jumped out of the car and walked home. They never spoke again.
That was a hard time.
And her parents only made it harder. When she told them she was planning on keeping the baby, they erupted in a mushroom cloud.
Her mother wanted her to get the pregnancy “taken care of.” Her father didn’t care what she did as long as she got rid of it.
They forced her. And because seventeen-year-olds are supposed to do what their parents tell them, she agreed.
She had a girl. And for many years that was all she remembered. She never saw the hair color, eye color, or chubby fingers. She only saw a newborn from a distance. Her parents didn’t want her to see the baby.
When nurses took the infant away it wasn’t a pretty scene.
“My baby!” she yelled until her voice gave out. “My baby, my baby!”
She bawled for years. A piece of her body had been stolen. Her biggest part. She felt like her entire person had been cut into sections and auctioned off to the highest bidder.
But seventeen-year-olds eventually grow up. Even sad ones. And kids turn into adults.
She went to college. She became a woman with a good career. She found a nice life, a man who loved her, and in time she had more children. Two boys.
But she never quit thinking about the girl she’d given away.
And she never quit wondering. That’s what all mothers do. She wondered what the girl looked like. What color her hair was. Was she a good athlete? Did she have posters on her bedroom walls?
And when nobody was around, she cried for a child she never knew.
Forty years. That’s a long time. Long enough to become someone else. Long enough for a wound to scab. But not long enough to forget.
She had a dream. It woke her from a heavy sleep. The dream was a strange and serious one. In the dream, she saw a beautiful blonde, tall, graceful. She couldn’t make out the woman’s features, but she knew who it was.
“My baby,” she said to the woman in the dream. “My baby.”
She thought about that for weeks. Weeks turned into years.
One day, she received a phone call. The man’s first words were, “Hi, I think you might be my wife’s biological mother.”
The next voice on the phone was a woman’s.
They met in a crowded restaurant. There were people everywhere. Families, children, and young couples.
She arrived early for lunch. She inspected every face in the place. Then, she saw a blonde woman. All forty-some years of saltwater fell from her eyes.
Nobody said anything. They only embraced. Customers in the restaurant gawked. A missing piece of her body fell back into place.
“Hi,” said the beautiful blonde.
“My baby,” said the woman.
My baby.
29 comments
Michelle Stancil - February 7, 2018 10:22 am
Beautiful. I am adopted.
candyalso - February 7, 2018 11:55 am
Love in the first degree~
Joan Raines - February 7, 2018 12:00 pm
A tear jerker for sure. I felt her pain and longing . You are a great story teller.
Perri Williamson - February 7, 2018 12:11 pm
❤️
MaryJane Breaux - February 7, 2018 12:34 pm
Third degree chicken-skin, I love being a Momma more than oxygen, I cannot imagine her torment – this is beautiful. Love wins!
Sherry Holland - February 7, 2018 12:43 pm
We need more about this story please!
Beth - February 7, 2018 1:03 pm
Thank you for touching my heart, again and again, with these true stories of courage and love.
Vickie Garrard - February 7, 2018 1:22 pm
So precious. Thank you for putting these emotions into words.
steve21745 - February 7, 2018 1:40 pm
Sean, I “found” a 47 year old daughter I never knew about just a few months ago. There is a fascinating story that goes with it – her uncle was my best friend in high school , but I never knew about her or met her until his funeral 3 years ago when she and I became friends – then this last fall we discovered she was my daughter. We had suddenly and unexpectedly lost our 36 y.o. son last March and on the day we were setting his memorial (back in WV) I got confirmation of her being my daughter. Call me sometime when you are in Opelika and I will share the full story – there is a lot more to it. Warmest regards, Steve Alberts 615-969-8913
Connie - February 7, 2018 1:49 pm
I can’t imagine a parent who would force that kind of choice on the child they claim to love. I came from a place of abject poverty, but no child was ever unwanted. Never given away. To make the choice to give a baby up for adoption should made by the mother of that baby. You do it to give them a better life or because you know you can’t do right by them. But being forced to give your baby away?? No. A grandparent that didn’t even want to hold their grandchild?? Hell no. Thank you for telling their story. Glad they found each other.
Lynda Gayle Knight - February 7, 2018 2:16 pm
This one brought tears to my eyes. Two of my cousins had the same thing happen when they were young. One was forced to have an abortion; the other gave hers up for adoption through a religious organization. In her late 40’s , her son located her. Great story. The other cousin has never found a lot of happiness, even blessed with money. Memories never go away❣️
Janet M Beech - February 7, 2018 2:26 pm
I got pregnant when I was 16, this was in 1977, when abortion had just become legal. When I went and got my “free” pregnancy test at a clinic in downtown Atlanta, I didn’t realize it was an abortion clinic, they had an ad in the back of the newspaper advertising free pregnancy tests.They called me to the front desk after I tested positive and asked when I wanted to schedule my surgery. I told them I would call them back. I gave birth to my beautiful daughter 3 months after I turned 17. The road has been a long one for the both of us, but I would not have changed it for the world. She has since then given me three wonderful grandson’s. I cannot image what this mother went through not knowing where her daughter was all of those years, such a beautiful story!
Jackye Thompson - February 7, 2018 3:01 pm
I loved the story of young girl and daughter .It is a God Blessing that today this baby would have
stayed and grown up with her Mother.Thank you for beautiful story.
Jackye
Laura - February 7, 2018 3:01 pm
That biological bond is strong and nothing is like a Mother’s love. I so hate that mother missed her child growing up but happy she finally got to meet her. My ex-husband was abandoned by his mother and adopted. At age 68 he became curious and through Ancestry DNA has now located 3 of the 6 biological brothers he has. Touching stories of reunions!
Pat - February 7, 2018 3:14 pm
Sweet story that took 40+ years to develop. I look at it as a blessing to a couple who could not have a baby…….
Marty from Alabama - February 7, 2018 3:31 pm
My heart is hurting so much I will have to take a break. Thank you for these real life things that happen too many times.
John Lewis - February 7, 2018 3:55 pm
Sadly, her parents missed out on many years of joy and love that comes with being a grandparent. And 40 years means they probably missed out on being a great-grandparent. All because of their pride and arrogance. Our two daughters are our pride and joy. The five grandchildren they gave us increased that pride and joy five-fold. The two great-grandsons are additional blessings that God has granted.
Jack Darnell - February 7, 2018 4:51 pm
I am sure this has happened many times, especially in the 1950s. I knew only one, a GOOD girl, one of the most beautiful girls I had the privilege of knowing, ONE IS ENOUGH she is still sweet today but for years she did not like herself.
Jack Darnell - February 7, 2018 4:56 pm
I wanted to add, I would have no problem in shooting boys/men like that in the knee. Maybe even higher! They are the creeping crud of the earth.
Sandra Smith - February 7, 2018 5:25 pm
I have a niece I have wondered about all her life.
My sister, her Mama, passed away in 2013, but she thought about her daughter everyday.
❤❤❤
Jack Quanstrum - February 7, 2018 5:49 pm
🙂
Jon Jones - February 7, 2018 7:26 pm
Was adopted by great parents of Wiregrass and Newton roots, we lived in Auburn. After they both passed on I contacted Ga Adoption registry who found my birth family. Parents both died of addiction issues, but I have 2 brothers and a slew of aunts, uncles and cousins.
Wonderful post. War Eagle from Beauregard.
Jon
Barbara Schweck - February 7, 2018 7:56 pm
I pray for my adopted daughter’s unknown biological mother each and every day. I pray that she knows how grateful we are for this precious baby she gave to us, how much we love our daughter, and that she will somehow feel at peace that we have given her/our daughter our very best. I can only imagine how hard this was for her. I also pray that if and when my daughter decides that she would like to meet her or her biological father that they will still be around and be glad to meet her.
elainenkarrh - February 7, 2018 8:15 pm
That one hurt….
Debra - February 7, 2018 8:21 pm
Made my eyes water…
Librarian - February 7, 2018 11:18 pm
The only feeling worse that hers is that felt after an abortion. Both solutions may be the best one at the time, but the pain never goes away.
Dell - February 7, 2018 11:35 pm
This one hits me right between the eyes, I know how that feels. I, too, am hoping one day……………
Jody - February 12, 2018 6:12 pm
❤️
Marion Pitts - February 19, 2018 2:48 am
Tears and smiles for this Mother finally reuniting with her baby girl. ?