copyright Melanie Greenwood
The Labyrinth
For years, adoption was our goal. Every form signed was another step through the bureaucratic labyrinth, until we stepped out into open air and he was ours.
~*~
“Michael is seeing the school psychologist again today,” I told my friend Brent over coffee. “He still starts fights, and fires.”
“It’s hard being a teenager.”
“Did we make a mistake adopting older? Maybe we should’ve gotten a baby.”
“Don’t tell Michael that.”
“I just feel like we’re back in the maze. I don’t know how to get out this time.”
Brent shrugged. “That’s parenthood. You don’t get out, you just go through.”
The Green-Walled Tower 
February 4th, 2015 at 7:35 am
A picture portrait of a reality that many parents have to deal with.
Well done, sir.
February 4th, 2015 at 7:41 am
I liked the last sentence ,,,,,,,,,, you just go through. Excellent.
February 4th, 2015 at 7:46 am
Excellent story.. Getting through, adoption is parenting.
February 4th, 2015 at 7:32 pm
Thanks. 🙂
February 4th, 2015 at 8:53 am
So much truth in this piece. Well done!
February 4th, 2015 at 7:30 pm
Thank you. 🙂 Glad you liked it.
February 4th, 2015 at 8:57 am
Brilliant last line.
February 4th, 2015 at 7:29 pm
Thanks. 🙂
February 4th, 2015 at 9:26 am
“You don’t get out. You just go through.” Truth.
February 4th, 2015 at 10:31 am
So very true. That’s a situation I think more than a few adoptive parents might find themselves in. Nicely done.
February 4th, 2015 at 7:29 pm
Thanks, Sandra. It’s easy to forget about what comes after the adoption process and all the adjustments that have to be made to normal life, for everyone.
February 4th, 2015 at 10:41 am
That Brent is a pretty smart guy.
February 4th, 2015 at 2:13 pm
You may have just given some pretty important psychological help to parents who are actually experiencing this kind of thing. it’s great when you can use a story to present a truth in such a palatable way.
February 4th, 2015 at 7:27 pm
Thanks. 🙂 As someone who is thinking about adoption, I think about this kind of thing. When there is one huge challenge, it’s easy to forget about the challenges that follow.
February 4th, 2015 at 3:07 pm
Well done. Great analogy!
February 4th, 2015 at 7:07 pm
Thanks, Perry!
February 4th, 2015 at 3:36 pm
Such a bitter-sweet piece.
February 4th, 2015 at 7:06 pm
Thanks. I’m not a parent, but I can imagine.
February 4th, 2015 at 9:54 pm
This spoke to me about something that happened in my area about 8 years ago. Our mayor (at the time) had adopted an older boy. They had him in a lot of therapy and rehabilitations. When he go out he broke into a doctor’s home and killed him. It was terrible.
February 5th, 2015 at 3:03 am
Our family has experienced adoption. It has all the same challenges as any kind of parenting, as your story says, and then some big ones in addition. Hang in there if this is a personal story. It’s worth it. Beautifully told.
February 5th, 2015 at 4:17 am
Dear David,
Perfect dialogue and construction. You sucked me in. I thought this was taken from personal experience. Brent’s advice at the end is perfect.
Great writing, beautiful telling.
Shalom,
Rochelle
February 5th, 2015 at 3:49 pm
Nice piece full of truth told through excellent dialogue.
February 5th, 2015 at 10:13 pm
Thanks. I’m not a parent myself, but I hope to adopt, so this is maybe my fears coming out.
February 5th, 2015 at 5:04 pm
Very true for any parent.
Great story.
February 5th, 2015 at 10:12 pm
Thanks, Rachel.
February 5th, 2015 at 10:54 pm
I love that last line “You don’t get out, you get through” – sells the whole piece.
KT
February 5th, 2015 at 11:17 pm
Thanks. That was the first line I thought of when I was writing this and thinking through the idea.
February 5th, 2015 at 11:32 pm
Dear David, Great story and parenthood is something you just have to go straight through – no pausing to analyze every single decision you make, but keep at it. All parents make mistakes, but your children love you because you are there for them. Plus, they (kids) are fun to raise, you laugh a lot! Nan 🙂
February 7th, 2015 at 9:23 pm
Yes, I think the crazy times in parenting are the best and most memorable.
February 6th, 2015 at 5:17 pm
You just get through. A lesson for any of life’s labyrinths.
February 7th, 2015 at 9:21 pm
That’s true. This sentiment could be applied to a lot of situations.
February 6th, 2015 at 11:02 pm
David, so much of parenting is instinct and what has come before. There definitely is no rule book and everyone does it differently. Great take! It often feels like a mysterious maze to me.
February 7th, 2015 at 9:20 pm
I’ve only been an uncle and not a father, so I’m seeing it all from the outside but it does seem like a maze sometimes. Sometime, perhaps, I’ll be able to jump into the maze too.
February 7th, 2015 at 10:21 pm
I bet you will experience it. You’ll make a great father!
February 10th, 2015 at 2:10 pm
Good story, David. Many children come with problems, even the ones you give birth to. It’s human nature, and it’s true you just have to work through it. It’s not easy growing up, especially these days. Well done. — Suzanne
March 17th, 2015 at 2:02 am
fantastic story david.