There is no surprise that the Olympics is on every American's TV or computer lately. It is also no surprise that we are learning about our favorite athletes as they compete, and their private lives coming to light on the newscast every night. One of the biggest being Simone Biles. The girl who was adopted, but taking the gymnastics world by storm. But then again there is always the negative people, and those people are bashing her grandparents or "mom and dad" to her because it is not "real" adoption.
Step back to six years ago in my life. I was a freshman in high school, my older brother was 24 and I was living like an only child. However, little did I know my life was about to change.. for the better. God placed my wonderful nephew into our lives full time. My brother wasn't in a state to care for a child, and the mother of the child was in and out of jail for serious charges. I remember my mom and dad applying for joint custody with the other grandparents. I then remember the judge granted my parents full custody of a babbling, waddling, one year old. It was such a shock, we didn't even own a carseat for him yet. But after that day I could not imagine my life without Jack. Three years later we still had Jack, but scared to death that one day his real mom would get out of jail and take him back. Because in America, she could do that. No matter how bad of a person she is. We went ahead with the adoption process. We went back and forth with lawyers, papers were sent back and forth between us and the prison, and a lot of praying was done. That January, Jack was officially adopted, and happier than ever.
If someone came up to me and told me that my parents did not really "adopt" Jack because they were just trying to keep him from his real parents, it would astonish me. Do you know our story? Did you want this poor boy who was already suffering medical problems from his mom doing drugs while pregnant to suffer? To go from foster home to foster home? That's what people are saying about Simone Biles. People are upset that the announcer at the Olympics referred to her grandparents as "mom and dad." SO WHAT?! They are mom and dad to her. They raised her, they kept her safe, they are the reason she is where she is today. On "The Data Lounge" an anonymous commenter said "The same way when an adoptive parent talks about falling in love with the kid 'the moment I saw them and knew they were mine.' Nonsense. Blood is always thicker than water." LOL do you even know what you are talking about? Have you held a baby that you have prayed to God for? Have you been trying to have a baby for years, and finally get to hold one that is actually yours in your arms? Probably not.
Adoption by grandparents is more common then we think. No, they are not "taking" children from their parents or being greedy and wanting to raise it "right and according to their ways." They are giving that child a chance. A chance to compete in the olympics, a chance to have medical issues fixed, a chance to graduate high school.
