The following is a story from Cayden, a 14 year old who was adopted through the Lund Family Center's adoption services.
Adoption is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Before adoption, my life was very uncertain and chaotic. Hi, my name is Cayden and I am 14 years old. Today, I would like to share with you what adoption has meant to me.
As with most children who have been adopted from foster care, my life has taken many twists and turns. I first went into foster care at the age of 5. At the age of 6, I was returned to my birth mother, only to return to foster care at the age of 7. I can't remember how many foster homes I have lived in, but I can tell you that it was alot.
My whole life could be flipped upside down in a matter of seconds and I could move to a new home with no warning. I would have to begin my life all over again with a new family. You see, moving from home to home just tore me to pieces. I lost people I cared about, I lost friends, I lost possessions and I lost self-esteem with each move.
I am grateful to my birth mother for doing what was best for me. While it did take her a long time, she did he most unselfish thing ever. Since she knew that she couldn't take care of me the way that I should be taken care of, she gave up her rights to me so a family that could meet my needs and love me could be found. It has taken me a long time to see that giving me up was what was best.
When I was 11 years old, my permanency planner and my social worker called Jeff and Reagan, who are now my adoptive parents. That was in November of 2005. While I wasn't aware just yet that I had been matched with a family, I was dreaming of the day I would be adopted. I wished alot for a family that would keep me safe, love me, and that I would never have to leave.
I met my parents on September 15, 2006. It is a day that I will never forget. I learned that I would have two sisters, one older than me and one younger than me and a huge family who couldn't wait to meet me. I was excited to learn that I would be making only one more move, and that move was to my forever family. I admit I was also a little scared.
Now I know that I never had a reason to be scared. After a couple of visits, I moved in with my family on december 16, 2006. I finally had a family of my own! I had parents, two sisters, and later another sister to make three. I had pets, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins that I would never have to leave again. I now had a permanent family to celebrate holidays and birthdays with. I had a family that I could love and who loved me for me. I had my own room with my own things and I knew that at the end of the day, I would come back to this very room every single night to go to sleep. I knew where home was always going to be. That felt great to know that I would never have to leave or say good-bye again. I knew I didn't have to worry about getting told to leave because I made a mistake. I now had family values, traditions, and so many of the other things I had wished for in a family.
I have grandparents who take the time to take me fishing, let me spend the night at their house, take the time to teach me new things when I ask, never miss a birthday or holiday, and who believe me in everything I do. I have sisters to learn from and to teach things to. I have aunts, uncles and cousins who spend time with me, do a lot of fun things with me and support me in any way I need, all of the time. I now have parents who want me and love me with their whole hearts, who love me for who I am instead of who they want me to be. I now have parents who care about my future and want the best for me. I can talk to them about anything anytime and they are always there for me. I really think that without my parents I would not be where I am today.
My parents are strict and believe it or not I am thankful for that. Without them being really strict, I really think I would be a wild child today. They have high expectations of me, and they believe I can meet those expectations. I know I can meet those expectations because my family has given me the tools that I need to be successful now and in the future. I never have to worry about being safe anymore. I know my parents will never let anything bad happen to me. Adoption into my family was really the best thing that has ever happened to me.
I have even gotten to experience adoption from the other side of things. I have a new little sister who is a few years younger than me. I can help when she gets down, because I walked in her shoes once. It really feels great to know that she has a safe and loving home with a wonderful family. I hope all kids in foster care get what my sisters and I have been given. We were given a chance at life without uncertainty and chaos. We were given a life of love, happiness and family that will always be there for us. All of these things and more is what adoption means to me.
For more stories from adoptive families, please visit the following links:
Link to Sharon's Story from the Adoption Picnic
For more information regarding adoption, please contact Wanda Audette at
(802) 864-7467 or via email at wandaa@lundfamilycenter.org.