I was abandoned by my mother as an infant. She left me with a babysitter and never returned. The sitter was a young U.S. Marine who had recently returned from serving in Vietnam. The Marine and my mother were romantically involved, but I was not his, biologically. While he was saddened by the loss of the woman he planned to share his life with, he fell in love with the baby girl she left behind. After watching the baby secretly for a while, he chose to dedicate his life to a new purpose of becoming an adoptive father. When I was three years old, Robert D. Kelly, legally became my father.
My father is an amazing, humble man, who inspires me through his positive example and life of service. In the year 2000, my father became a father for the second time in his life, when he was ordained a Byzantine Catholic priest. That same year, we were blessed with the birth of my son, Brayden. My son’s arrival changed us both forever. I became a mother and he became a grandfather. My father’s choice to adopt me as a single parent had continued to bless us through a beautiful addition to our family.
I have always known my adoptee story had the potential to touch people and I feel called to share it. While sharing your personal adoption story is not easy, it can make a difference for the people touched by it and for you. When I first began telling my story, I only focused on the positive. Through engagement in the adoptee community I found the strength to share my truth – adoption is not a fairy tale. Being abandoned is painful and leads to real lifelong challenges that need to be talked about and reflected upon. This is part of the journey of self discovery and why I created this blog.
I encourage those touched by adoption to communicate about their unique adoption experience more often. It is only through acceptance of our life experiences, no matter how painful, that we can be comfortable in our own skin and be the people we were meant to be in this world. Too may adoptees hide this part of their identity due to feelings of shame. As a result, they are missing out on the affirmation, healing and life changing connections that come from open, honest communication with others and themselves.
I am a proud adoptee striving to be my best self on the lifelong journey of self discovery. Please join me!