I was Adopted

I lived in San Diego a few years ago. It was a bit expensive at the time, so I shared a home and living expenses with  room mates. My room mates included a married couple and a single mother with 3 kids. She had 2 boys... ages 8 and 9. She also had a little girl still in diapers. This little toddler had just learned to walk, but couldn't talk yet.

Having room mates was my way of dealing with the high cost of living.  At the same time, I needed to feel like I could come and go as I pleased. I was single, so I didn't want anyone to tell me what to do, I wanted to mind my own business, and  most of all, I just wanted to save money.

There was nothing wrong with the lady and her kids, but I went out of my way to avoid her. I wanted to steer clear of any kind of relationship situation. I did not want wind up with an "Instant Family".  Everyday I just went to work and came home. For the most part, I managed to keep to myself. UNTIL ONE DAY as I was having my daily bowl of  breakfast cereal... the little one came into the kitchen and started watching me while I was eating. She stared at me. If you've ever had little child look at you while you eat, you know what it feels like.  It can be a little  uncomfortable.

If you try hard enough... perhaps you can FEEL when a person is looking at you...and every once in a while,  if you listen hard enough, you can practically hear them blinking as well. BLINK.....long silence......BLINK..........silence..........BLINK,BLINK.  Oh yes, folks, there was a lot of blinking,  and a tiny person staring at me, and well... let's just say, I wasn't trained for that.

I wanted to feed the child, but at the same time, I was not the father, so that made me feel just a little uncomfortable.   I feel it's  a parents responsibility to decide what and when their child is supposed to eat. 

My thoughts at the time, went something like this: Look, I'm not the parent here. Where's that mother of hers anyway? FEED YOUR CHILD WOMAN! But then, I thought,  look, this is an innocent, child ... JUST BEING A CHILD. So, I got an extra bowl.  I parked her in the chair next to mine. I made her a bowl of cereal. She was too young to know know how to use a spoon yet, so I got another spoon  and used it to feed her from her bowl.

Thus began a brand new daily ritual. After a while, It became the best part of my day. As time progressed, she learned how to use the spoon for herself. She also started learning how to talk. I was amazed  as I observed the way a child's learning  process improves with time.  It's like watching a little plant slowly maturing.

I can not tell you how exciting it is to listen to a tiny human uttering so many of their first words. It's an awesome experience to hear a child say something for the very first time ever. I looked forward to our  daily routine. This went on like clock work for the longest time.  Every day same place, same thing, not a bump in the road,  until one day, something very unexpected happened.


Like I said before...she was learning new words. One day, in one of her little broken sentences, she called me ..."Daddy".  I froze because I had never been called that before.  I was in a state of shock. I didn't quite know how to react, so I stared straight ahead...  for a moment, trying to process what just happened.  (  Looking back, it's weird how a simple 3 letter word caught me off guard like that. )

 Eventually... I knew I would HAVE to look, so, I slowly turned my eyes in her direction. Through my peripheral vision, I saw this poor little thing trembling with fear. It was like she thought she had done something wrong. At that point, I couldn't help but laugh. I turned, looked at her, then gave her a comforting smile to let her know everything was OK. Five minuets later, she said it again... "Daddy."   It was now confirmed... I had been officially adopted.

I don't know if anything like this has ever happened to you, but let me tell you from my experience,  this is one of  my fondest memories.
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SO there you have it...  that's the background story that lead me to write the poem that I'm about to share with you. Even though I wrote this poem several years ago, It still brings tears to my eyes as I read it today. It hits me where I live. I am sharing this because I know Somebody, Somewhere will appreciate it. It comes straight from the heart.
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THE CHILD WHO ADOPTED ME
He told my mom he loved her
Before I came to be.
Then he got another woman
And left my mom and me.

They say he's in the NAVY,
he's always out at sea.
How could this man be cruel,
And do this thing to me?

Suzie's got a daddy,
Johnny's got one too.
But I don't have a daddy,
what am I supposed to do?

I don't have anything to give,
And I'll take up all your time.
But a child needs a daddy,
And I want you to be mine.

I want you to read me a story
And tuck me in my bed.
I want you to build me a snowman
And push me in my sled.

Teach me a little kids song.
Teach me ABC's.
Always say GOD bless you,
And wipe my nose when I sneeze.

Teach me how to talk.
Spank me when I'm bad.
Take me for a walk,
hug me when I'm sad.

Laugh and play with me,
Take me to the zoo.
Teach me animal names,
Tell me why the sky is blue.

I really want a daddy,
My mommy knows it too.
Of all the people in the world,
I pray Jesus gives me you.

Having the strenght of a lion
And the gentleness of a dove,
Means answering a small child's cry
When she needs a daddy's love.

MisterXman