Sixteen years ago, Adoption Resources helped place Amanda* with a loving family. Last month, Amanda decided to include her own letter in the annual update to her birth mother, Teresa*. 
Amanda kindly shared this letter with us and asked if we could post it on our blog, with the hope that it will help other people considering adoption in MA.
Dear Teresa,
I hope this letter doesn’t surprise you – I always hoped to connect with you one day. My mom told me that she was going to send a letter and pictures to Adoption Resources, which is something I guess she does every year. I told my mom that I wanted to send a letter to you, too, and she suggested adding it with her letter.
I’m 16 now (going into my junior year of high school), and I have always known that I was adopted. I don’t really remember finding out – it was something I always knew and could ask my parents about when I had questions. A few questions I had for them recently was your favorite ice cream flavor and if I sounded like you when I answer the phone. It probably sounds silly, but those were definitely two things my parents didn’t know. (FYI, my favorite flavor is mint chocolate chip!)
If you are wondering if I’m happy, I want you to know that yes, I am. I have friends in school, enjoy playing soccer (even though I didn’t make it to varsity), and have an older brother named Brad who plays bass guitar. He goes to college now, so we text every so often. My parents are pretty good – they always have been supportive of me, and I know that no matter what, they will be there for me. Sometimes, we have what my dad calls “challenging discussions,” but we always seem to work it out.
Freshman year, I had a really hard time in school. It felt like my friends were changing and didn’t seem to want to hang out with me anymore. I kind of felt different. Maybe I was changing – I really am not sure. It made me feel really sad – almost like I had no one – but my brother and mom talked to me about it. They noticed that I wasn’t myself and helped me understand what was going on. Brad told me that the same thing happened to him when he was around my age and how he worked through it. My mom thought it might be good to talk to someone like a counselor, so that’s what I did. It really helped a lot.
Well, I guess I just wanted to say hello. If you ever wonder about me, I want you to know that I am doing okay, have a good family, and a silly puppy named Ginger. (I love animals!) My favorite subjects are science and math. I recently got an award for volunteer work that I do in the pre-school connected to my high school. When I graduate, I hope to go to college like my brother. My dad said I should slow down and take my time with all my plans – I don’t think my parents are in a rush for me to leave!
Someday I hope you will write back. The social worker at the agency said they will definitely let my parents know if they hear from you.
Love,
Amanda
To learn more about adoption in MA, check out our Adoption FAQ.
*Names changed to protect privacy.