Gilly

In my mid twenties and married, we discovered my husband couldn’t have children. I knew immediately that the right path was adoption. Although we went on to adopt three boys it was my first son who made me a mummy. It was a long process with a further wait that totalled four and a half years. Towards the end of that time I pulled into a petrol station as it came on the radio that a baby boy had been abandoned at two hours old. I said to myself “you can come and live with me son”. And he did. And he is. When he was ten weeks old I held him for the first time and the love and bond was instant, blessed.

He always knew he was adopted, I used to tell him before he could understand what I was saying and the knowledge grew naturally. It hasn’t always been easy for him but that is his story to tell. It has always been easy for us. I was separated then divorced five years ago and that created a whole heap more issues for both of us but it only strengthened our relationship. I found love again and got engaged but it didn’t work out and on the very day it fell apart my son was due to go on a first date. He offered to cancel it to be with me saying “honestly, I think she’s out of my league anyway mum”. What? No such thing! And off he went.

My boy met his girl. The highest compliment I can pay her is if I could choose anyone for him, I’d choose her. Turns out he also met the mother of his child, they were both overjoyed when they found out she was pregnant last summer, as was I! The boy who made me a mummy was going to make me a nanny. On 8th March the most beautiful girl in the world was born. Sylvie. Everything everyone says about a grandchild is true, she makes my heart swell but what’s even better is seeing my son become a daddy. He is the man I always saw, even when he didn’t see it himself and he has the only thing I couldn’t give him, blood.