Children’s Book Author Helps Kids Understand Adoption

Q. Did you actually get to meet her? If so, did she have any words for you concerning the care of Jillian Mei?
A. We never met Jillian’s birth mom and probably never will. She is a mystery—an unknown woman hiding in the shadows. Most birth moms conceal their identity to avoid punishment and shame.

We need not meet Jillian’s birth mom to know she loved her. The act of the birth family leaving their child in a public place where they will be quickly found and cared for is their final act of love. Someday we will take Jillian Mei back to visit China when she is older. I will then seek out the man that found her and hope he can lead me to her birth family. I could ask for no greater gift then to fill that void in her life. I will walk that village path if I can. I will face the woman that gave birth to my daughter and give her a hug.

Q. Do you plan on adopting other children?
A. Yes, we are presently waiting a referral for our second and last child. We want Jillian to have a sibling in life closer to her age.

We have asked for a healthy three to four year old girl. We expect to travel again to China the end of this year or early 2009. Jillian is very excited!

Q. I love your story, Bonnie. What a wonderful way to show other children that even though they are put up for adoption, it is out of an act of love and not that their birth parents don’t want them. What can you tell other children to help understand this?
A. Children need to know that sometimes because families are too poor or because other countries control how many children are allowed in a family it is not always possible for birth families to keep their children. They will always love and miss them. They give the adoptive family or forever family the gift to parent their child. This is a blessing for the forever family, the child and the birth family.

Thank you for this interview, Bonnie, and I hope you and little Jillian Mei have years of good times together, as mother and daughter.

Bonnie B. Cuzzolino is the author of Letter of Love from China. You can visit her beautiful website at www.plumblossombooks.com.