The journey of becoming a parent can be long and emotional. Parents may struggle to conceive, seeking alternatives like IVF or adoption. While having a biological connection to their child is something most people desire, adoption can make a huge impact, helping a child in need and filling parents’ hearts with more love than they ever imagined. In a strange tale, a man was reunited with the daughter he didn’t know he had when he and his wife decided to visit a local children’s shelter.
Man Discovers Daughter at Orphanage
James and Claire met each other during a difficult time in James’ life. He was recently divorced and learning to be a single dad to his daughter Olivia. He explained that Olivia and Claire bonded immediately and the pair eventually married. “It felt like a missing puzzle piece had finally slotted into place,” he said.
After some time, James and Claire discussed expanding their family, exploring all of their options. Although Claire had “yearned to embrace motherhood from the start,” the pair felt a deeper connection to the idea of adoption. “We both believed that there were children out there who were longing for love and a stable home. We both felt a newfound sense of purpose from the idea,” James shared.”I was completely taken aback to discover another child who looked so much like my daughter—same honey-brown hair, matching dimples, and even the same birthmark on her wrist,” he added. “But there she was, in a shelter I had only been to because my wife and I had made the decision to adopt. That revelation turned my entire understanding of my past upside down.”
Exploring Adoption
“We started the journey, completing forms, attending interviews, and getting ready for the moment we would finally meet the child who would become part of our family,” James continued. The pair had an appointment to meet with Mrs. Alvarez and their lives would change forever. The day came and they set out to meet possible new family members. “As we drove along, the air was heavy with a sense of excitement. Claire gazed out the window, lost in thought, as the suburban landscape drifted by,” James continued. “I wanted to bring some levity, but there was something profound about that moment—like we were standing on the edge of a life-changing decision.”
The Day Their Lives Changed
When the pair arrived, they spoke with Mrs. Alvarez about their ideas for the future and she took them to the play room to meet the children. They separated to speak with different children. “Claire relaxed her tense posture the moment she spotted a little boy constructing a towering stack of blocks. She knelt down and exclaimed, “Wow, that’s impressive!” What’s the maximum height you can achieve with it? He smiled bashfully, yet he appreciated her curiosity,” James explained. “At the same time, I ended up having a conversation with a young girl who was busy painting a rainbow at her easel. She shared her passion for bright colors, mentioning that purple was her absolute favorite. But neither of us experienced that “click” we had heard so much about.”
Fate Came “Tapping”
Suddenly, a little girl tapped James’ shoulder. Although he’d never seen her before, there was something familiar about her. “I glanced back and spotted a little girl, probably around five years old, with big, curious eyes. She had on a soft pastel sweater featuring a cartoon cat, and her hair flowed long and honey-brown, reminiscent of Olivia’s,” he said. “My mind was racing!” He said, recalling the moment he saw his daughter. “Are you a new dad?” she asked gently, tilting her head. I felt a sudden jolt in my chest. She really has a voice reminiscent of Olivia. Still, I managed to put on a polite smile. “I’m not quite certain, darling.” I’m James. “And who might you be?”
“She smiled brightly. “Angel.” “That’s the name the woman here said fits me perfectly.”
Meeting His Daughter
I blinked, the name spinning in my mind. “Hey there, Angel.” Are you enjoying yourself? She gave a slight shrug and looked over at the puzzle table. Then, as if she had made a decision, she extended her hand. My eyes fell on it—and there it was: a tiny, crescent-shaped birthmark just above her wrist. My mouth felt parched. That was just like Olivia’s. She had the same form, the same place. My mind was racing: There’s no way this is just a coincidence. It’s just too precisen,” James continued. “Claire must have seen the look on my face. She walked over, her face turning pale. “James, what’s going on?” I looked at her, struggling to find the right words. “Check out her wrist,” I murmured.”
A Strange Realization
Suddenly, a strange realization hit James. “My ex-wife, Caroline, once shared with me that she was pregnant before our divorce. She brought Olivia into the world and placed her in my arms. Could it be that Caroline had more than one child—perhaps twins—and had managed to keep it all under wraps?” James wondered. Sadly, no one at the children’s shelter knew the girl’s family history. However, James couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d just met his daughter and the pair decided they would adopt the girl.
Confronting the ex-Wife
As soon as they arrived home, James called his ex-wife for an explanation. “Caroline, did you end up having twins?” He asked her, explaining: “In an orphanage, there’s a little girl named Angel. She resembles Olivia perfectly, birthmark included.” Although their conversation was seemingly productive, it also brought up some emotional turmoil. Caroline told her ex husband: “I just couldn’t manage with two babies, James. I found myself alone and without any money, I was worried you’d never forgive me if I admitted there were two. I wanted to protect one, so I entrusted you with Olivia.”
Purportedly, Caroline had planned to return for the other baby but couldn’t get her life “sorted out.” Although James was angry and hurt he was determined to adopt his daughter. “I was going to bring Angel home, reunite her with Olivia, and provide them the life they truly deserved,” he said, according to AmericanWonderHub. The girls clicked immediately and “Olivia was practically overflowing with excitement.”
Discovering Twinship
“The two girls gazed at one another in wonder, each catching a glimpse of her own reflection. Their matching hair, eyes, and that tiny crescent-shaped birthmark,” James added. “In that moment, they let out a joyful squeal together, wrapping their arms around one another, and bursting into a mix of laughter and tears. Claire and I sat together, our eyes welling up with tears, as we watched our daughters realize they were twins. In our living room, a gentle miracle unfolded.”
Family Day
“A year later, we gathered for a small ceremony with just family and close friends to celebrate Angel’s official adoption. We named it “Family Day,” and the girls all wore matching dresses. Caroline arrived, her eyes filled with tears, yet she felt a deep sense of gratitude,” James continued. “She attempted to clarify her past mistakes, but no words could truly heal the hurt. Still, for Angel’s sake, I let her stay, silently wishing this might bring some kind of redemption.”
Happily Ever After
James, Claire, Olivia, and now Angel, happily live together and are looking forward to the future. Although their circumstances are incredibly unique, this isn’t the first example of a family discovering their child had a twin. According to Inside Edition a family made a similar discovery. Lisa Lumpkins and her husband Gene had adopted a little girl named Aubrey from an orphanage in China. She was stunned, scrolling through Facebook when she saw a picture of a little girl who looked just like her daughter, living at the same orphanage.
“I was speechless. I was like, ‘Wow! She looks just like my daughter,’”she said. Aubrey has cerebral palsy and was treated differently than the other kids. “You’re no good if you have a disability. Aubrey wasn’t allowed to go on field trips… sometimes she didn’t get the same food as the other kids,” Lumpkins explained. The pair adopted the girl’s sister, and went on to adopt 2 other children with special needs from the same orphanage.
Reunited by TikTok
In another strange story, a pair of twins were reunited thanks to TikTok. Amy and Ano are identical twins who were taken from their mother and sold as infants. The pair discovered each other after Amy’s mom had gotten calls from several family members asking why she had an account with a different name. Her mom brushed it off as a “doppelgänger” and forgot about it. However, fate intervened and 7 years later the other twin saw a TikTok of Amy, who looked eerily similar. As such, Ano tried to find Amy, asking people in her University WhatsApp group for help. Someone who knew Amy, connected her and Ano together on Facebook.
Adoption Stoires
The sister reconnected and eventually flew from Georgia to Germany to meet their biological mother, according to BBC. The meeting was coordinated by a journalist named Tamuna Museridze in 2021. She started a Facebook group after discovering she herself was adopted and helped the girls find out more information about their biological parents. They learned there had been several thousand people suspected to be victims of a baby trafficking scandal. Tamuna believes it was run by organised criminals and involved people from all sections of society.
Genetic Testing Leads to Family Revelations
Luckily, advancements in technology have allowed things like genetic testing to be accurate. As such, thousands of people worldwide have been connected to their heritage and, in some cases, long lost family members. While many reunions are happy, some downsides have also risen, according to ITWLaw. For example, the discovery of some families have led to emotional and legal consequences such as rejection, divorce, and family members no longer speaking to one another. Meanwhile, some like Ano and Amy have learned that they were stolen from their birth mom and put up for adoption, a revelation that likely caused severe emotional distress.
Helping Adoptive Children Feel Welcomed
Making the decision to adopt is a powerful move that ultimately changes the lives of everyone involved. However, it’s important to remember there may be an adjustment period. Some children have come from broken homes, some have been sent from foster home to foster home. Meanwhile, others have faced feelings of anger, rejection, lack of love, and low self esteem or worth. Many children have been let down by all of the adults in their lives and it’s common for them to take some time to get comfortable. According to HuffPost, there are several ways to help your adopted children feel comfortable, secure, and loved. Firstly, having realistic expectations will prevent anyone from being disappointed or blindsided. Secondly, be consistent and try to have a schedule.
Adoption Awareness
“We really have to be aware of some of the mental health issues that our kids are going to have, that need to be supported,” Explained Cathy Murphy, the executive director of the Adoption Council of Canada. “Everyone has challenges parenting, but we know that because of the childhood trauma that our kids have experienced, these are areas that we are gonna have to work on. It’s not a maybe, it’s a definite.” Unsurprisingly, consistency includes “Social and emotional stability” “Our job is to over and over and over again show them that they can trust us,” Murphy added.
Adjust schedule
Secondly, it’s helpful for parents to adjust their schedule, creating more time at home during the adjustment period. In many cases, parents may work from home more often during the first year. “Ideally we would be home for at least a year, if not longer, with the children, even if they are older,” Murphy said. “In many cases, the attachment and bond will take even longer with older children than younger ones.”
Create Privacy
Thirdly, parents should create a private and separate place with a comfortable bed, some furniture, and a willingness to buy some decorations and belongings that make their new child feel welcome and at home. “There are some things in our day-to-day lives that a lot of us take for granted, that our children and youth who are joining our families through adoption are going to take longer to build.” Murphy added.
Meanwhile, adoptive parents should give some space and freedom to their adopted children, when it’s appropriate. “It may take our kids a little bit longer to separate from us and become independent, and that’s OK,” Murphy added. “It was our job to make them feel dependent upon us.”
Address Expectations
Next, address rules early on. Most older children were sent from one foster home to another and they’ve experienced a range of rules and different methods that families have. As a result, they’ll likely come in feeling uneasy and uncertain about what’s okay and what isn’t. Therefore, addressing rules like bed time, screen time, meal time and other family expectations early on will help your adoptive child feel more secure and clear about their new family. Conversely, some children come with trauma and may not be able to adhere to certain rules. It’s important to have an open and loving dialogue often about how everyone is feeling about all the changes.
Nurture Interests
Additionally, parents should nurture the interests of their adoptive children. This will help strengthen the relationship and give them a sense of belonging. Additionally, this helps to improve their self-esteem over time. “Really embrace what their interests are, and really support that and build on that interest as a way to build attachment in your family,” Murphy said.
Patience is Key
Lastly, Murphy explains the importance of being extra patient and nurturing when the family or household goes through a transition. “If someone in the extended family like a grandparent or a great-auntie dies, those are losses our children are going to feel a lot more acutely,” Murphy said. “Everyone feels losses, but our kids have already experienced so many losses that those can be triggered.”
She also notes the importance of just being there. In most cases, adoptive children need reinforcements and reminders that they’re loved and secure. “Show them they can count on you,” Murphy explained. “Our kids can thrive if they have parents who are really consistent and can give them routine and can always show up.”
In many cases, family therapy or individual therapy sessions can have a massively positive impact and are recommended to help children work through some of their traumas and challenges.
Resources for Prospective Parents
The Adoption Network explains that there are many things to consider such as your family’s readiness or what the child’s background is. However, in some cases, adoption can become costly, difficult, or even have large legal requirements. For example, federal and state regulations vary and must be adhered to to qualify for the possibility of adoption. Meanwhile, it’s important to know the “role of the court” during the adoption process and what services are provided by attorneys or agencies. Furthermore, families who are considering adopting a child from another country have additional steps to fulfill. As such, they should consult with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), to find out more information about meeting international adoption requirements.
Information about Adoption
The adoption network and several other sources have ample information about adoption and what might make the most sense for your family. However, there are many things to consider and there’s a lot of information out there. As such, it may become overwhelming to weigh the options. Fortunately, local adoption agencies are the easiest place to start because they’ll have access to local resources as well as local requirements for becoming a new parent. “You can do a lot of research on the Internet and by reading, but you should always check with a local adoption resource to make sure what you have learned is accurate and legal in your state,” according to the website. “You also want to locate an attorney or agency to help with the adoption, as well as an adoption knowledgeable social worker to conduct the adoption homestudy.”
Adoption Options
Interestingly, there are several options for adoption and each have their benefits and disadvantages, and each should be weighed carefully. Here are the adoption options and some of their stipulations:
- Open
- Semi-open
- Closed
- Domestic
- International
- Immediate
- Same-sex adoption
- Transracial
An open adoption is one in which the biological mother, and in some cases the father, has a relationship with the adoptive family throughout the child’s life, allowing the child to get to know their biological parents or have that option throughout their lives. Meanwhile, a semi-open adoption is one in which the biological and adoptive family have limited contact but still remain in some form of contact. Lastly, a closed adoption, is as its name implies, the families don’t have any contact with each other, particularly while the children are still minors. However, in adulthood children always have the option of trying to track down their biological families if they desire to do so.
Alternative Family Dynamics
Alternatively, some families may feel that fostering is a better fit. While being a foster parent can be rewarding, it’s equally as challenging. Being a foster parent means that families are more susceptible to disruption because children are frequently coming and going. As such, therapy is a highly recommended tool for this process. Meanwhile, many of the suggestions above will likely work to make foster children feel loved, supported, and secure.
