Category: Adoption
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Almost 6 months old…
In the recent few months I have met and held our first grandson. This smiling, happy child has captivated me in a way that I had expected, and, if I’m honest, has also captivated me in a way I had not expected. that’s down to dates and my own circumstances. I’ll come back to that. …
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“They’re not your real Mammy and Daddy!”
It was like a slap but this was different. I’d had a slap or two in the little fights or if the road football match was going wrong, things like that were to be expected, but this hurt in a way that a slap did not. I’m sure I was in some sort of childish…
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A Scarf…
I came across a Facebook post recently, written by Billy Ó’Hanluain… It was about how grief never allows you to make plans, in a way. It was a truly great comment and post. It set me off and this flowed out over the next thirty minutes. Here’s what I scribbled: first thought, best thought…. Usually,…
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Father’s Day 2020
Like a good number of fathers of my acquaintance I forgot all about Father’s Day this year until our son and daughter mentioned it on the past few days and sent messages. If all goes well we’ll meet up, socially distantly and mark the day. This year has made us take stock, figure out the…
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Father’s Day, 2019
Today, as is the case for most adoptees, can be complicated, difficult, complex, awful, heartening, saddening or maddening. Take your pick. Fathers, last time I checked, are human, so as bad or as good as any or all of us. I’m a proud father and I hope I’ve done my best for our children. That’s…
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So, how did I get on?
Wonderfully, as it happens. Because of a little pressure on a major work project my thoughts were not totally on the upcoming meeting. That worked in my favour in a way because of my tendency to overthink some things. It hit me at odd times though; shopping, driving, just as I drifted to sleep. I…
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Birth Father – Update
My tale of birth circumstances took a few significant steps further recently and a major one on Thursday last. As you may remember I’ve been seeking out the truth of my birth. I was very lucky to make contact with my birth mother’s family when at one stage it seemed as if that part of…
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So I got my file from the adoption agency the other day…
It was waiting on me the other morning. That the file arrived was not unexpected. I had finally asked for it at a recent meeting with my social worker. We’ve started on the road to contact my birth father’s family so I took the opportunity to ask. In what I’ve noticed is a recurring pattern,…
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Father’s Day 2018
So today, this Father’s Day, has been another time to stop and think, this year even more so. I did have a notion to write something as its become a ‘thing’ in recent years and even had some vague notions of what I might explain this year. Mostly it was hugely positive, good and great…
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Mother’s Day 2018
Like everyone I had a mother. Trouble was we were only together for 6 months. I then went to another mother who loved me deeply as her own child. All seemingly very sad in a way (and it’s not my intention to look for sympathy) just an interesting contrast that I experienced. I had and…
Martin Bridgeman 