Birthfather visit

Last weekend, we had our annual visit with Brae's birthfather and his side of the family.  Each visit keeps getting better and better.

We met at a local amusement park and for the first time, I think Brae "understood" who his birthfather is to him.  In fact, I asked him in the car on the way over what it meant that he had a birthfather.  His reply? "It means I'm special to him!"

We spent the next several hours exploring the park.  Brae and his birthfather played miniature golf together, rode the go-karts, and played in the arcade. 

We then got lunch together and they deluged Brae with birthday presents.  They also got Sienna a pink Barbie convertible, with Barbie included, and she was in hog heaven.

While Brae ran around the restaurant in his new Teenage Mutant gear, swinging his swords, I got a chance to catch up with his family.

They expressed, as they have before, how difficult it was at first when Brae was born and the adoption was going through.  They wanted to keep him.  But, in the same breath, they expressed tremendous gratitude and relief that he was with us.  They also recognized (and appreciated) that we need to make clear to Brae that our role is as his parents, and his birthfamily has a separate role as his larger, extended family.  Because he is adopted, they said, they understand that means he has more people that love him.

They wiped away some tears as they indicated how much it meant to them that we continue to have these visits and that we send pictures and keep them updated on Brae.

I told them it is just as important for us, and for Brae, that we do that as it is for them.  And, I reiterated, we will continue to have these visits for as long as Brae wants them. 

When we left that afternoon, Brae gave hugs to all of them.  When he got to his birthfather, he hugged him and thanked him for being his birthfather.

I am so proud to be his mom.