The Gift

.....a story of a mother's love.

43 pages of whimisical color illustrations capture a bittersweet and life altering experience about a love that didn't come in a box, tied with a bow.

The Gift

Read MY book to me

"Read my book to me, Kaka." Fresh from a bath and smelling of baby lotion, Baby Boy has crawled into bed with Dogdog and his newly acquired companion, another stuffed dog he calls Snuggle Buddy. This has become a ritual at our house. While he and I sometimes alternate between One Fish, Two Fish or Happy Birthday Jesus, we always read his book as well.

Baby Boy knows he is adopted and is ok with that. He knows his new sister, Cutey Pie has a different Da from he and Baby Girl, and he is ok with that. He doesn't know any other mother than Nice Lady, and those of us that love the Family are ok with that. When he is a little older, Nice Lady and Da can tell Baby Boy all about his other Mama and how much she loved and wanted him. Baby Boy is only four. We have plenty of time...

So, I create a little diversion using silly conversation, as I flip past the first few pages until I reach the part where Baby Boy comes to live with the Family. "Stop Kaka," he laughs, "It's me! I'm here, I'm here!" He let's me read a few pages and then insists, "Let me read, Kaka". Naturally, he knows the story by heart. He points at Nanni-K and possessively calls her by name, "Look Kaka, there's my Nanni-K." I smile, cuddling a little closer as he continues."Yes baby, there's your Nanni-K," I reply. He likes the page where Sister Dear and Baby Girl are feeding him-it's a real awwwwww moment. He makes me laugh, giggling and pointing to his green blankey and his Dogdog, and especially the page where Cutey Pie and Baby Girl are playing dress up and he is wearing his Da's shoes. Baby Boy can make up a whole new storyline about the page where Ms. Pat takes he and Baby Girl to the playground.

Reaching the last page, the one with Nice Lady, Baby Girl, Cutey Pie and himself all wrapped up together in a big chair, he sighs and looks up at me. His little finger points at Nice Lady and says, "That's my Mama." "Yes baby," I say,"that's your Mama."

It just confirms what I've said all along- sometimes biology just isn't so important after all.

Your Mama isn't always the one that gives birth to you...

One of the things that I find hard to understand is how people can put so much emphasis on birth, biology and DNA. Love doesn't have any connection to these things at all. Love is just something that happens. Quite often you don't even realize it until one day you see that special person and know, for whatever reason, you just love them- alot.

As this project began, I started jotting down little thoughts about a Mama and what's important to a child. Whether the one you call Mama gave birth to you or you inherited her by marriage or adoption, or whether you just have a connection with a special lady and call her Mama, you are blessed. The Gift is a story about just that sort of blessing.

A Mama isn't just someone that gives birth to you.

She's someone that sits with you when you're sick, and doesn't mind.

She's the one who bakes cookies late into the night, when you forgot to tell her earlier.

She will clap louder than anyone at your piano recital.

She reads your favorite book to you over and over. And over.

She really listens to you when you need to talk and when you're scared she

makes you feel safe.

She teaches you to be polite and chew with your mouth closed.

She's the last person you see when she kisses you goodnight, and the first person

you want to see in the morning.

You know in your heart that she's your Mother, your Mom, your Mama.

She is your gift and you are hers. Sometimes biology just isn't so important after all.