Martin's Adoption: A Short Story

Ever since I was a kid I would get this look. A look of judgement for something I couldn’t control. When I was one year old I was adopted by my parents, who are American citizens, and have lived in the United States ever since. Growing up, my adoption automatically peaked everyone’s interests and I became the center of everyone’s curiosity. In elementary school, kids in my class constantly would ask what it was like to be adopted, or why I was adopted. The worst and most terrifying questions someone asked me was, ‘“where are your real parents,” and “who are your real parents?”

The elevator went to a complete stop, and Martin cried out for help, but somehow no one heard him. Then the fat lady pulled out a wrench, and before Martin could do anything everything went dark. After the fat lady knocked out Martin she dragged his unconscious body into the back of the apartment building where no one would see her. Once she got to the back of the building she picked up Martin and tossed him in the trunk of her car. She put the keys in her car and she was off.

There were no reported changes in this area. Mr. and Mrs. Gailliard (MHS) describe Clarence as quiet. Clarence continues to get more sociable. Clarence had some interactions, however separates himself from peers.

Last year their birth mother relapsed. We had not heard from Beth in a while--in fact, no one had. Beth’s friends in Columbus had not heard from her, and she had not been showing up to her job. Everyone was concerned. My family had tried to contact her for weeks before she finally got in contact with us again. She had said that she checked herself into rehab as soon as she relapsed. Rehab was where she had been hiding out. My parents did not want to tell my siblings where she had been. They did not want them to think that their biological mother had chosen drugs over them. Since Beth had taken responsibility and went to rehab, they decided to give her a second chance.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 2007. This act provides children waiting in foster care with permanent families through adoption. The states increased the number and proportion of adopted children that received adoption assistance because the child had a special need. The article goes over administrative data that indicates that states more diligently recorded the special needs of children as well as post adoption financial support and assistants. The paper reviews how some states found themselves in the contradictory position of promoting adoption while simultaneously cutting post- adoption support. In the next section of the article it outlines federal adoption incentives and funding for post- adoption

During the early 1900s, the large majority of adoptions in the United States were closed. In the Western world many thought that the way to make adoptions a natural part of forming a family was by completely severing the links between the adoptee and his biological family and for birth parents and adoptees to remain unknown to each other. It was thought that severing these links made the newly formed family appear to be a biological family, which was assumed to be the ideal family

Those who have gone through the adoption process often refer to it as a roller coaster ride. There are moments when you feel you have been climbing forever – working towards a desired result that seems to never arrive. Then suddenly you are hanging on for dear life as you are whipped through major stretches at break neck speed, twisting and turning. You may lose sight of the ground and find yourself reacting instead of relying on your careful plans and preparations. What’s the trick to a successful adoption? You might say that it’s learning how to enjoy the ride for what it is...something you probably can’t predict, but that leads you right where you wanted to go. Struggling to stay grounded during your own roller coaster adoption ride?

It all happened out of nowhere. In January 1998, Martin came home complaining of a sore throat. As the days followed things got worst. He stopped eating, started sleeping for a long period, and had developed pain when walking. He stopped using his body and started to forget things. It’s pretty alarming how at first you can be fine, and in instant get severely sick. He slowly started forgetting where he was and his speech started deteriorating. What shocked me so much is the things he endured when he was in a vegetative like state, but still endured them later on when he could comprehend what was going around his surroundings. It was pretty upsetting how Martin knew that many of his caregivers talked to him as if he wasn’t there. Surprisingly

The significant message that really stood out from me is to get to know and cherish your family and show them love how much you love them and care for them. In the essay, Martin was talking to his friend who had lost both his parents. Martin then relates the words his friend: “ if I had anything to work out with my parents, I should do it now, because one day that opportunity would be over”(p.628). This stood out to me because it is a true statement and can be applied to everyone in our lives that we are close to. This is also the turning point of Martin's relationship with his father. If it wasn't for this conversation, the author wouldn't have had the opportunity to truly get to know his father before he died and would have regretted it.

Martin is ready to be passed down the medicine bag, I thought. I must see him at once. He is Lakota after all. My ancestors made it clear with me that it was vital for the owner of the iron shell to reach the next male in our family tree. This has been going on for generations. Initially, I was supposed to give it the Medicine Bag to my son, Maries Father, but I had to attend war and so, I wasn't able to get him the Medicine Bag. Martin was my last chance. No matter how long it takes, I will meet Martin. I took the first bus I could find to go to civilization.

My whole life I've thought I have a handle on things, on my own decisions. I believed that as long as I did what felt right, everything would be alright in the end. Every big decision I've made so far I've just went with my gut, my instinct, but now I am afraid. I'm afraid that my instincts might be wrong, that my heart might be in the wrong place.

Another piece from Advanced Feminist Theory that is related to my work is Adrienne Rich’s “Notes Toward a Politics of Location.” In her piece, she quotes Virginia Woolf who wrote “as a woman I have no country. As a woman I want no country. As a woman my country is the whole world” (Rich 211). This quote, and this idea, is one that is repeated by several others in their concern with women and their connection to nation and country. Boland’s poetry collection, A Woman Without a Country, not only takes its title and its epigraph from this quote, it is building on these thoughts about women and the nation. Kay too looks at her specific positionality and how that is related to nation and nationalist feeling.

I remember the first time that I knew Leila was different from me. Her skin more caramel, features darker than both my mom and dad. My parents were more distant with Leila than they were with me, but I never knew why. They weren’t that affectionate to begin with, but I never remember them hugging, kissing, or saying I love you to Leila. So, one day, I asked Leila why she looked nothing like me.

It was a nice winters day. Well, as nice as it can be in the middle of winter in Duluth, Minnesota. It was almost Christmas and the whole city was abuzz. Tinsel and lights were strung on every building, house, storefront, and lamppost. Christmas songs were playing almost everywhere you went. And the scent of fresh baked cookies filled the air. Christmas is my favorite holiday. I just like everything about it. Except one thing, I never get any gifts. Apparently this big guy with a white beard and a red suit comes to your house named Santa and puts presents under your tree or in your stockings. I’ve never heard of him but everyone at school always talks about him.

The next day at kindergarten Charles hit a boy named Chris and swore at him. Then the teacher washed his mouth out with soap and he got spanked. Today, there was a parent teacher interview and Laurie’s parents wanted to go. Laurie insisted they didn’t have to go because he didn’t want them to see Charles. His parents got very suspicious and started to believe Charles wasn’t real.