Mmhmm, it’s a thankful post. And this being the adoption blog, it has an adoption spin.

Obviously, as I’m pretty upfront about my healing journey, I have some regrets. However, I’m not a total Negative Nancy. I am well-aware of the positives within our situation that make it what it is and today, I’m going to take a moment to acknowledge them for what they are to me. I don’t always talk about the positives because they’re positives and, as such, I don’t need help from readers and others to process them (most of the time).

I am thankful for a beautiful Munchkin. I am thankful that she knows my name, that she grew within my womb and that she thinks she left something in there. I am thankful that she refers to her brother as, simply, her brother. I am thankful that I can be there for her, even when it’s kind of hard on my end. I am thankful for her amazing presence in my life for it has shaped so much of who I am today.

I am thankful for her Mom. I am thankful for her ability to be point blank with me when necessary. I am thankful for her ability to laugh with me. I am thankful that she values me as much as I value her. I am thankful for her parenting skill. I am thankful for the love she has for the Munchkin.

I am thankful for her Dad. I am thankful for his ability to step back from situations and help us through them. I am thankful for his ability to make me laugh. I am thankful that he values me as much as I value him. I am thankful for his parenting skill. I am thankful for the love he has for the Munchkin.

I am thankful for the fact that we, as a group, have gone above and beyond what the adoption community sees as a “normal” open adoption. I am thankful for that openness. I am thankful for our trust in one another. I am thankful for our research. I am thankful for the help that has been provided to us and the help we have provided to others. I am thankful that we weren’t satisfied with the norm. I am thankful that we have developed our own relationships. I am thankful we didn’t listen to the agency.

I am thankful for my birth mother friends. I am thankful for what they have taught me. I can’t go on enough about them. I love each of them in their own way.

I am thankful for a Husband who loves my daughter more than he or I can put into words. I am thankful that he refers to the Munchkin as our son’s sister. I am thankful for his overwhelming capacity to love.

I am thankful for the reform work taking place. I am thankful for adoptees that have taught me what my agency didn’t want me to know. I am thankful for the candor that exists on the internet.

I am thankful. Our family is blessed. I acknowledge that we are luckier than most will ever be. I am thankful.

3 Responses to “The Easy Way Out on Thanksgiving”

1. Judy says:

   November 22, 2007 at 10:10 pm

   That is beautiful and amazing.

   Judy’s last blog post..Happy Thanksgiving
2. Gretchen aka mamagigi says:

   November 22, 2007 at 11:04 pm

   Wonderful, Jenna.

   Gretchen aka mamagigi’s last blog post..On placecards and turkeys
3. StorkWatcher says:

   November 28, 2007 at 4:48 pm

   I am thankful we live in a world where adoptions like these are possible. I am so sad my son won’t have the same type of relationship with his first mom. And we won’t have that with her, like you do with D&J.

   I know she’s thankful to have you in her life now, as she understands in on her level. I am sure one day as she grows to understand it all as an adult, she still will be thankful for you to be in her life.

   You are both really blessed to have this.