Reviews from

Gifts of Life and Love

Accepting 'the primal wound': my adoption story. (699 words)

26 total reviews 
Comment from robyn corum
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LisaMay,

To me, adoption can be such a crazy game of roulette. Some kids end up sooooo much better off than would have been possible with their birth family - whether it be through finances, love, what have you.

Sometimes God really does know best. I am so glad your story ended up as a mostly positive one. It sounds like your parents were amazing! Thanks!

 Comment Written 28-Mar-2022

Comment from Wendy G
Exceptional
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Jenny, how very moving. In retrospect, what a blessing that you had Nola and Tom to be your real parents. This is what family is, or should be. They gave love, and received it in return. So much more important than being with those who do not care and resent you. It's very moving and very powerful writing. Best wishes for success in the contest.
Wendy

 Comment Written 27-Mar-2022

Comment from lyenochka
Exceptional
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Even with your reduced word count, I think you wrote this beautifully. You contrasted what your life might have been like with your birth family but your birth mother abandoned all her daughters, so you really were so blessed to have been adopted by Nola and Tom! They are your REAL parents born from their hearts. Very moving! Best wishes in the contest!

 Comment Written 27-Mar-2022

Comment from LJbutterfly
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I gasped when I read your birth mother failed at aborting, and told you about it. Of all the tragic stories I've ever heard relating to family, this is by far, the worse. The parts of your story you told, are written with heartfelt brevity. Even though you've had many tragic experiences, your writing style exudes strength and determination. I would have never guessed your history. You are blessed. Best wishes in the contest.

 Comment Written 27-Mar-2022

Comment from juliaSjames
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I seem to recall your sharing samples of your life in other posts, poetry as well as prose, but this is the first time I'm reading your story in a comprehensive write. It's brave to share. I hadn't heard of the primal wound, but it makes sense. Reading between the lines is always fraught with danger. But I'm going to tell you what I think anyway. Honesty deserves an honest response.

I see you in this story as a displaced person, a refugee who found a wonderful loving home in another land; but whose roots continue to call to her. Roots that attract but repel. Now she prefers to be the sole member of her own tribe. Her story is a story of survival. It's a story that illuminates the resilience of the human spirit. In her tribe of one, she is chieftain, shaman, warrior, hunter, storyteller. I'm in awe of her.

So that's my take, right or wrong.

I hope you'll share more of your story as the spirit moves you, LisaMay.

Stay safe and blessed

Julia



 Comment Written 27-Mar-2022

Comment from Cecilia R
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Your story is very moving. Sometimes what looks like tragic circumstances is a blessing in disguise. You did a great job of telling your story and comparing it with what life might have been like had it taken different turn. Thanks for sharing it. Good luck on the contest.
Cecilia

 Comment Written 27-Mar-2022

Comment from jessizero
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This piece was captivating and touching, and sad in places. I am sorry for the losses of your family. Thank you for making the decision to share your story. Best wishes.

 Comment Written 27-Mar-2022

Comment from royowen
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It's better to be raised by non biological parents who truly love and want you, than natural parents who don't. I've always adored my girls for the day they were born, and was truly thankful for them. It sounds like your adoptive parents could have been older, anybody can be a mother or father, but it takes a good parent to be mum or dad. Beautifully written Jenny, blessings Roy

 Comment Written 27-Mar-2022

Comment from Mary Vigasin
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

A truly moving and heartfelt story. I can see how difficult it was to write. Your comparison of your adoptive family and you birth family shows how caring and loving your adoptive (and real) family were. They nurtured and made you the caring, talented and adventurous person you are today.
I have known families like Marie's and I wish I could say they were givers rather than takers in society.
Best wishes and regards
Mary

 Comment Written 27-Mar-2022


reply by the author on 27-Mar-2022
    Thanks for this terrific review, Mary.
    Life offers us sweet and sour... we have to pick out the best bits to enjoy... something you are adept at as well.
Comment from Ulla
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Hi LisaMay, Yes, I see what you're saying and I totally understand everything you're revealing. I can also see that you had a lucky escape from growing up with your biological mother. Thank you so much for being open and for participating and I wish you the best of luck. Ulla,:)))

 Comment Written 27-Mar-2022


reply by the author on 27-Mar-2022
    Thanks for setting up this prompt and giving us a voice. Do you see how the most recent contest prompt has BIOLOGICAL sister emphasized?!!!
reply by Ulla on 27-Mar-2022
    I did, yes. I may be paranoid, but she didn't include a brother, as she knows I have one !!
reply by Ulla on 27-Mar-2022
reply by Ulla on 27-Mar-2022
    Actually, I've just realised, this is a different contest than the one I thought of. And Adoption is again prohibited. I hope people will start to ignore her. Something is not right with her. I wonder what century she's born in??
reply by the author on 27-Mar-2022
    If I wrote about a half-sister in one of her silly restrictive contests she'd probably make a rule in her next one that sisters must be 100% bloodline. I see someone pleasantly asked if he could write about a cousin as he didn't have a brother, but he was denied most vehemently.
reply by the author on 27-Mar-2022
    No, you're not paranoid. I've seen her add rules to exclude others who have beaten her in previous contests. This new one where she has BIOLOGICAL sisters in capital letters looks like it is in response to your prompt about adoption. It certainly looks like she is compiling her rules so her own story has the maximum chance of winning. Going to voting booth with only 2 entries is ridiculous and shows just how excluding her contests are. Why is that a good thing, and how is that encouraging of writers on a writing site? - only in her favour.
reply by the author on 27-Mar-2022
    I hope they ignore her contests too, but she's made it so they only need 2 entries - maximum chance for her to win, with such restrictive rules aimed at her benefit.