Last week as I was replensihing our supply of board books from the local library I came across Tell Me About The Night I Was Born- in board book form! I had heard of this book, written by adoptive mother (and Activia spokesperson) Jamie Lee Curtis, but I had never actually read it.
Ironically, the very first page I opened up to happens to be the one that stirs up the most feelings inside of me:
"Tell me again about how you couldn't grow a baby in your tummy, so another woman who was too young to take care of me was growing me and she would be my birth mother and you would adopt me and be my parents "
Midway through that sentence I was immediately overcome with with a flood of emotions ranging from gratitude and love to inadequacy and jealousy. Although the part about the woman being "too young to take care of me" isn't accurate in our case since M.'s birthmom is only 5 years younger than I and had two other children, the phrase "couldn't grow a baby in your tummy" left me feeling achy and empty inside. In fact, I was totally caught off guard and I almost burst into tears right there in the library!
I guess it just goes to show that although I think I've dealt with and accepted my own infertility issues there will probably always be triggers that stir things up inside of me. One day I may feel like I'm at "acceptance" in the grief cycle and then the next day I may come across something that puts me back at "depression" or "anger". Proof enough that as wonderful as adoption is, it doesn't "cure" the physical or emotional aspects of infertility. Does adoption cure childlessness? YES!
Back to the book. . . M. LOVES it which means I'll soon be adding it to our permanent collection. Aside from the book having definite appeal to children, I got a kick out of some of the more subtle adult humor the illustrator uses from the names of the books the parents read, the pamphlet the lady is reading on the airplane, and the labels on the diapers and diaper ointment.
Overall Tell Me Again About The Night I Was Born is a book I think younger adopted children and their parents will enjoy reading together.
On a side note and as a head's up: You may be overcome with a sudden urge for yogurt each time you see Jamie Lee Curtis' smiling face on the back cover . . . Activia!
5 comments:
Lol. So Mary, I'm reading your first book review and pondering the two quotes at the very end while I start reading this post/book review. I start reading the quote thinking it is going to be so very profound (like the previous post's quotes) and experienced the exact same feelings you went on to describe! I thought my heart was trying to jump out of my body through my esophagus!!! Lol. Good ol' infertility, didn't realize I'd been missing you. :)
I can't wait to read the Tell Me Again book... and intrigued enough i'm going to have to read the traumatized kiddo one too. You totally made me laugh though "Holding therapy is assinine."
Crazy. My friend texted me today and told me about this book and it reminded her of Olivia. I am seriously debating whether to buy the book for her first birthday.
Stephanie- BUY IT for Olivia! What an appropriate gift.
Sheyann- It's always comforting to know I'm not the only one who feels the way I do . . .
too funny! i CRIED when i read that book. we've had it for just about a year and i've never read the whole thing because i can't get past the first 2 pages. weak. i know. maybe i'll try again tonight.
Our copy of this book is getting very worn out! Nathan's always loved it, and now Alyssa likes us to read it to her too! I love that it's simple, and the pictures are so fun!
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