In my last post, I wrote about using the Thanksgiving season to jumpstart a gratitude journal. While we are being grateful, why not show a little appreciation to the people who helped and supported us during our adoption journey?

I’m sure there are obvious people who supported you during your adoption journey, perhaps they are family members, close friends, or your significant other, but what about someone else who went out of their way to be kind to your during your time of grief and their kind words, thoughts, or actions have stuck in your mind? Why not show them a little appreciation and let them know what their support meant to you?

In my own adoption journey, there was one person, R, who provided me with unexpected support. He since his become a close friend but at the time of my pregnancy we were only acquaintances. R was a regular at the restaurant where I was waitressing during my pregnancy. He and his son, little R, were some of my favorite customers. R was/is a restaurant food critic so when I first began waiting on him I was so nervous, but in time I learned he was just a regular old guy.

When I began to show, he asked about the pregnancy and when I told him that I was making an adoption plan he shared with me that he himself was adopted. He gave me his phone number and often came in during my pregnancy and was always very supportive, asking thoughtful questions about my pregnancy and the adoption plan. He let me know that he was available to answer any questions I might have from the adult adoptee perspective, which I did take him up on!

His support and subsequent friendship was unexpected but something that was very much appreciated and has come to mean a lot to me. I’m not sure if he realizes that are not, so this Thanksgiving season, I’ll be letting him know how much his support meant to me a little over six years ago.

Who will you be thanking this Thanksgiving season?

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Related Posts:
Keeping a Gratitude Journal
Giving Thanks

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