Dear Birth Mother of My Daughter,

I have never seen you face to face. You have no idea who I am. What I do know is, because of you I have my daughter.

There have been times I have been so angry with you. I watch my daughter, a wondrous and happy child  who lights up any place she goes, and wonder how you could have thrown her away. I wonder if she ever crosses your mind. You brought her into the orphanage the day she was born. My anger at those moments is only because she is such a loving child that I don’t see how you could have given her up. It is my protective streak saying, “How dare you reject my child!”

Most of the time, I smile because of you. I am grateful to you for the gift of this daughter you carried, who has become mine. I imagine myself walking in your shoes the day you brought her in to the orphanage and wonder what pain must have been going through you with each step, knowing you would probably never see your child again. I know you chose the path that you thought would be the best for her. That was your wisdom. That was your gift of love to her. You could not care for her yourself. You wanted someone in her life who could. It was a leap of faith. You were hoping she would find people to love her the way you obviously did. Your leap of faith was answered. She found me. We found each other.

Rest assured she has a mother who loves her beyond measure. I want you to know that she is cared for and cherished, praised and scolded, encouraged and prodded, cuddled and treasured. Most of all she is loved by a boundless heart. She is my daughter and a part of me. She is joy wrapped up in warmth and life. She is my child. I am her mommy.

On this Mother’s Day we will include you in our outing to the park, a special time together. We will send our love back to you on the water that runs out to the ocean there. I hope it reaches you to wash over you with the love a mother and daughter have for each other. We send it to share with you. Happy Mother’s Day.
Laurie