Little Lassie (LL) just started preschool. FlyGuy and I are currently struggling with how much information to share with her teacher regarding adoption. I am a teacher and I believe we should share how our family was created with LL’s teacher. I think it will help the teacher identify any red flags that may come up as LL becomes more aware of what adoption means.

FlyGuy worries that LL could be treated differently if the school is made aware of our situation. As a teacher, I trust LL’s educators to deal with adoption considerately and compassionately. All the articles and suggestions we have received say to go with our gut. Well, in a nutshell, my gut is telling me something different than FlyGuy’s gut is telling him.

This feels big and I don’t want to make a mistake. We’ve been discussing adoption with Little Lassie for years. She gives no indication of distress or even much interest when we talk about how we created our family. I know this is an age appropriate reaction. I want to be prepared for the next step, so we can address any questions LL may have about how she joined our family. (Little Lassie came to us at year old. Her story is somewhat unique. She lived with her birth parents until the day she was placed in our home. We haven’t exactly shared these details with LL yet. Thus far we have simply discussed the concept of her adoption and having a first family.)

I won’t mince words here: the test came back in my favor, no melanoma.

What can I say, I’m thrilled. This result means I still need to watch my sun exposure, so my future will be full of wide brim hats and spf clothing on the beach. I’m going to find a way to be smart and look fabulous.

My splotch is gone and my stitches are healing. FlyGuy is back in a good mood. (Interesting how he was unbearably grumpy when i needed his help the most, then I get a clean bill of health and can finally walk a bit and he’s all smiles and rainbows. Whatever happened to “…in sickness and in health.”)

If you have a wanky splotch, get it checked out. I caught mine in time. If I had let it go longer, it may have taken a turn for the worse. I wish I had my splotch taken off when it was small enough to merit one stitch instead of 5 huge ones. Mostly, I wish everyone knew how easy it is to beat melanoma by simply getting your splotches checked out early.

My future will be shaded, but bright. Be smart, smarter than me.
Go to the dermatologist early and often.

Thanks to Heather at Production Not Reproduction who is spear-heading awareness and partnership by hosting our Adoption Round Table. Also, thanks to Lori who gave the prompt this week. Lori is a member of an adoption triad who continues to interest me with her dynamic view of adoption.

Lori’s topic: Share your wish list for your open adoption

Here we go.

1. I wish I were invisible, so I could see my daughter’s birth parent’s often and learn things about my daughter and where she comes from.

2. I wish I could parent my daughter’s brothers.

3. I wish if my husband were to say, “that woman gave birth to my daughter” he would be pointing at me.

4. I wish the world would go away and stop judging my open adoption. FlyGuy and I are the captains of Little Lassie’s ship (for now) and we will always keep her in safe waters.

5. I wish LL’s birth parents could see how often LL has a bright, beaming smile.

6. I wish LL’s birth parents knew how often I think of them with gratitude and respect.

7. I wish my daughter could enjoy moments basking in her birth parents’ love and then come back to us knowing she belongs with us and everything is right with the world.