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Hello everyone, I am new to the forum. I am 28 year's old and I was placed for adoption when I was 3 1/2.
I always knew I was adopted. I knew that I also Had a sister but didnt know anything else.
Throughout my whole life I have always felt alone. Felt like no one loved me. My Adoptive parents and I didnt get along. My adoptive mother died when I was in 6th grade. My Adoptive Father is in the military so that was another stress on me. He was very strict and we always bumped heads. My adoptive father eventually remarried later down the road.
I joined the army at 20, stayed in 4 years. my life had never really matured into anything. I was always depressed. I have been depressed pretty much all my adult year's.
At age 25 I met a young girl and we fell in love. She was the 1st serious relationship I had ever been in and the first person that I ever felt comfortable with and could open up to. We dated for 2 year's. We wanted to have a child together and my son was born july 19, 2007. We got married shortly after.
For 3 year's I wasnt depressed. I felt like I had finally found the family I had been missing. It was all I had ever dreamed of.
Fast forward to august 25 2009. My wife left me and took my son. She said she was not happy anymore. The last time I saw my son was the last weekend in Sept. I was devestated. For 6 months I have been in a deep stage of depression and didnt see anyway to get out of it.
Wednesday of this week I called my adoptive dads wife trying to talk to my dad but he was not there. I started to say goodbye but my "mom" said. "hey you got a letter in the mail, lemme read it. Dear Sean, We were contacted by a young women named Kristen that says that you might be her brother" She didnt make it any farther in the letter because I started balling, crying like a little baby. See I knew I had a younger sis and that her name was Kristen but didnt know anything else. She gave me a number to a agency to call.
I gathered my emotions and called as soon as I hung up with "mom".
The case worker read the whole letter that my birth sister had wrote to her and i cried the whole time listening. I was in shock, as she told me some details i started remembering stuff.
I gave the case worker my email address and my phone number.
The next day at 11:34am while I am working laying down hardwood floor and I get a text. It says "Hey it's your sister kristen"
I dont think that I have cried as much as I did when my wife left me as I did that morning when I received that text. I felt like the biggest weight had been lifted off of my shoulder's. We ended up texting back and forth all day. I learned alot.
I have never been one to believe in the "everything happen's for a reason" and "god has a plan for all of us"
I never in my wildest dream's expected this to happen. This has happened at the best time in my life because it has opened my eye's alot. I am much happier now and I dont feel depressed like I did.
I found out she was placed for adoption shortly after I was also and that made me even sadder.
Now here is where I need some advice. I know were blood, It's been 20+ year's. We didnt really know each other due to being so young when we were put up for adoption.
She is very scared to open up to me, I know that will change with time but what do I do to make sure that this once in a lifetime opportunity does not get ruined?
I so bad want to have that brother sister bond and be there for her since I was never able to be there for her when we were little. I want that.
So how do I handle this situation?
It is truly amazing, I never expected this ever. I have been through so much depression and let downs the past 6 months. I now understand the Lord. This is a gift from God himself.
Wow - Welcome to the crazy world of reunion.
You have to take it slow...pushing your sister will not end well. Be ready to not meet face to face for months possibly years.
Even though you are siblings you have no shared history and that is what you need to build now. Slowly, try emailing each other tidbits of what is happening in your life and bits and pieces of what made you you. Talk about what TV shows you like, books, if you like to travel, what your favorite time of the year is and why, your hobbies, your type of humor. Just everything that makes up who you are but do it a little bit at a time. Remember birthday cards and holiday cards.
Set up some boundries/rules so that as you get to know each other they become less by mutual agreement. Start with asking what she is comfortable with, phone/how often, email/how often and agree to discuss relaxing them when both are ready. Sometimes instant communication creates overwhelming feelings so perhaps agree to start off with not replying same day?
Hopefully that gives you a starting place. Also agree that if either of you feels the need to take a break (overwhelmed) that you will send a text or email saying just that and then keeping in touch on a regular basis indicating still there just need more time type of message. Reunion pullback is very common and if you both acknowledge it and realize it is what it is and is not just you it is easier.
Take care,
Dickons
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Dickons has given excelletn advice. I would just encourage you to seek some kind of counceling; a pastor, prof councelor, with experience in adoption issues, and/or a adoption triad support group in your area. If you have been deepley depressed, you may be much more vulnerable than you may realize, which may cause you to be a little more overly sensitive to things than you would otherwise be. An unbias support system can be great for a sound board, and aid in keeping you grounded in reality, not to mention, give you a hug when you may need one most. Good luck and stick around. You will find a lot of help here, and some pretty terrific people, who care.
I have told her that I am not going to force the issue of wanting to meet until she is comfortable.
I guess we will take it slow and see how it goes from there.
Thank you for the advise.
Im beginning to think that maybe this is a mistake. I am pretty much useless right now. She wants to meet the last weekend of this month but she has seemed to distance herself from me already and i dont feel that I am ready to meet her. I want to badly but she has her own life now and i dont have a life. What do I do. How do I tell her all this??
I want nothing more than to spend time with her and be a brother to her but I dont feel that is what she wants and I dont think that I am ready.