1. You struggle with it sometimes.

Being adopted is a wonderful, amazing, beautiful thing. In my life I have never met someone that was adopted who didn't feel sad, confused or even hurt a times. It’s sad that someone was in the place they were and they had to say I can’t take care of this child. It's confusing that someone would “give you up” or “didn't want you”. It hurts to realize there is a whole other family out there that you belong to that is carrying on with their life, without you.

2. You get confused with titles.

Mom, Dad, birth mom, birth dad, real mom, real dad, adopted mom, adopted dad… the list goes on. The truth is your parents are your parents and it doesn't matter what title they have. You know who they are and the place they hold in your heart.

3. People call your parents what you don't want them to be called all the time.

Whether you refer to your parents as Mom and Dad or adopted mom and dad or biological mom and dad, it's confusing. Chances are when you were younger it used to upset you when people would mess it us. But as you've grown you know now that it's okay, everyones adoption story is different. And, it's a lot easier to politely correct someone and tell them what you call each set of parents instead of getting upset about it later.

4. Your birthday can be a difficult day.

Birthdays are the day of the year that you think about being adopted the most. You're so grateful to be where you are and with your family on your birthday but theres always a part of you that wonders if your biological family is thinking of you or even remembers you. Some birthdays include tears, tears because you're so happy your with your family and tears because you have questions about your biological family.

5. You have a lot of questions.

Sometimes questions you have an idea of what the answer would be. Sometimes questions you're afraid to ask. Their won’t ever be a time that your questions about being adopted cease. But there does come a time when you make piece with the answers you know and stop worrying about the rest.

6. You think your special.

Being adopted is something most people aren’t. Growing up it was exciting to think that there was something you had that others didn't. My nana always reminds me that being adopted doesn't make me the odd one out (though it can seem like that at times), it simply makes me the special one! Realizing this and accepting it, along with remembering it at times when I'm really upset has been something I had to learn, but I'm glad I did, because it makes me so much stronger.

7. You have a special relationship with your dog.

Both you and your dog were adopted, so instantly theres a bond between you that other people don't know about and can’t relate to… Whether the dog knows about it you do and its something to both smile and laugh about.

8. You day dream about certain things, a lot… it’s hard not to.

Daydreams about what your life would be like if you weren't in the place you are today. What it would be like to be with another family. And that’s not wishing for another family, sometimes its just wondering what it would be life if you grew up in the South, or even another country. These daydreams feel like thinking about living in another time period or century for not adopted people.

9. Adoption is one of the things you're most grateful for.

It’s sort of crazy to think that this big decision was made for you before you had anything to say about it (if you were adopted young like me). It’s crazy to think what factors got you to the place you are today and how it made you who you are. Adoption is like another layer we wear. It shapes and molds who we are.

Adoption is truly the greatest things that has ever happened to me. It’s almost scary to think what I would be like if my parents didn't come and get me when I was just 48 hours old. After driving through stupid amounts of traffic and a tractor trailer flip. They could say I was theirs. And that they were parents. At 12:19 pm on a chilly day in February I became daughter to the most amazing parents in the world. I would say thank you for adopting me but that seems a little insincere. So Mom and Dad, thanks for making me who I am and allowing my adoption to be a part of that and our lives. I’m forever grateful for you willingness and want to be parents.