It was Valentine’s Day 1973, she was 17 and about to give birth. So young and all joking aside, quit Nieve and very scared. She was in love with the father of her baby yet no one but him, really understood and shared that love for this child that would soon be born, than the two of them, as well as young love for one another. But, it was not to be, her parents were against it from day one, the baby, him, and the shame it brought shame on them. They refused to let her keep her own child. It was a firm no but, she really thought when the time came they would change their minds, bur they did not. Yet, she had no choice but to managed to make it through all that was put before her at the age of 17 and to this day, Lovers Day, the day her baby girl was born she has not and never will forget that day. It was an easy birth, she was born at 1:56 PM Valentine’s Day weighing in at 5 lbs 3 oz, with a head full of black hair big eyes the size of quarters, and a button nose, she was the most beautiful thing ever. As she held her close it was as if she could feel the love, that connection between them so strong in her heart, all the way through to her soul.
It was just for a few minutes and then off she went, taken from the arms of that young Mother, to be placed in a private adoption with a family that would love her as if she were their own. But, she wasn’t theirs, she had a Mother, one that wanted her very much, and loved her for 9 months and now today she saw that face and knew what real love was. But, at 17 in 1973 that young Mother had no rights, what her parents thought was best And that was what would be, and so it was. After holding her child for the first and last time she cried herself to sleep, when she woke up she saw both parents there, she asked for a drink, and as her Mother went to get her a glass of water from the table beside her bed, she saw the beautiful single white rose in a glass bud vase. Yet no one knew what it came from, white Roses and white tulips became her favorite to this very day!
Year after year weeks before Valentine’s Day she was sadder than usual it was a hard day for her, harder than every other day during the years, and they were bad enough at times. Valentine’s Day was not a day she ever looked forward to, yet she kept it all inside, year after year, after year so that others didn’t know, but, she and her parents knew, how could they ever forget?
It was not until she had grown children years later that she could bring herself to finally tell them, to let it out, she wanted to scream, yes scream, you have a sister, I have a daughter, one she never got to see again, and will never know. She was so thankful for the children she had her 2 boys were her heart. the was blessed with, now grown men with children of their own. She and her parents never mentioned it after that, it was hush, hush, don’t talk don’t tell, it’s over let it go but, for her, it would never be over always in her heart.
Yet there came a time when she had to talk about it or it was going to eat her alive, literally. When her parents were older and not well, and her children had grown up, and she herself was now a Grandmother, one afternoon they had a deep conversation about that Valentine’s Day in 1973. They assured their daughter it had also eaten at them all those years too, but, they never wanted to bring it up since she had not done so in over 30 years. They said, that if they had known she would have grown up so fast and become the Mother, hard worker, and the fine young lady that she had become, they would not have done things the way they did.
It was time to cry, and tell them all the years that she held it in had almost destroyed her, and let them know she did understand finally why they did what they did, she had finally found some peace in it all. In the end, she knew what her parents did all those years ago was done out of love for their daughter and their first grandchild. They thought they were giving them both the life they needed, the best life possible for them both. Valentine’s Day 2024 will mark the 51st year she became a Mother for the first time, and every day that goes by she remembers that Valentine’s Day like it was yesterday. She hopes, dreams, and prays that the life of her firstborn is one of love, joy, happiness, and grace. When a Mother loves, she loves with everything in her, no matter what the outcome or circumstances.
Adoption is a wonderful, and beautiful thing when a child is loved and taken care of, she was privy enough to know that was the case for her daughter, but not until many years later. It is an act of selflessness, yet there is heartbreak that comes with that to give to another person that precious gift of life. You have to let go and do the best you can, that is your only choice, until that day when God introduces you both, once again in Heaven.
If you have a child you love dearly due to the love of a Mother who did not have the choice nor the chance to raise her child and gave you that chance to have that love in your life, I know you praise God every day. If you are a Mother who gave your child to someone without that chance to see them, to know they were ok period, or it took many years to find out about your baby that is now an adult with children and grandchildren of her own, I hope you know there is a special place in my heart for you.
Enjoy your Valentine’s Day, and know that God is love, He is the one that loves you no matter what, just as a loves her child no matter what. Unconditional love lasts a lifetime. She never forgets ever. Happy 51st Birthday to Kennedy, she stole my ❤️ 51 years ago today!
So for this lady, Valentine’s Day is always bittersweet