Having worked for the television news media, I'm all too familiar with the general gloom and doom that is normally reported. Journalists, print or broadcast, know that "if it bleeds, it leads," and producers often push ratings and subscriptions (quantity) over things that viewers and readers would like to see or read (quality). However, sometimes that quality comes through and I'm always pleased to see when adoption is presented in a positive manner.

A reunion story out of Vermont had me feeling some warm-fuzzies after reading the story. It turns out that (placed) daughter and (birth) mother had been living in close proximity to one another for eight years and had actually been in close contact. The daughter had been going to the hair salon where her mother worked for quite some time. And the two had even shared drinks once!

Imagine their surprise when a conversation lead them to one another!

In fact, I can't imagine! It would be quite surreal to know that you've been interacting with your placed child for so long without knowing that she shared your genetic makeup, without knowing that this was the child, now grown, that you had placed. I might have been in shock for quite some time!

Not these two.

Their relationship seems to have exploded into something rather wonderful. While some would call it the "honeymoon phase" of reunion, I often wonder what's so bad about honeymoon phases? I remember the honeymoon phase of my marriage and, dang folks, that was a good time! Obviously, keeping realistic expectations in mind during a reunion (or a marriage) is important but why not enjoy what you've got when you've got it? I say go for it! And this mother-and-daughter pair seems to be!

Furthermore, the article touches on something else that needs to be mentioned. For all the talk we do about regret, the fact remains that some mothers (and fathers) know that the placement was the right thing at the right time in their lives. Their regret is either non-existent or minimal. This mother speaks of that and simultaneously offers compliments to her daughter's (adoptive) parents.

"It was something I did right, oh God yeah," she said of her decision to give her daughter up for adoption. "She's so amazing. I could not have raised her this way."

Miller, who also has a 14-year-old daughter, said the life she was living when she was 18 wasn't good for her and would have been worse for a child.

"I knew it was the right thing to do because I was a total mess-up," said Miller, who long ago ended that chapter of her life.

While I think it's important to note that not every reunion will:

a) start as smoothly,
b) continue as smoothly,
c) involve no regret,
d) involve a child that was raised "better" than the birth parent could have,

I do feel that this story is one that needs to be looked at with a smile and a hope for the future of this newly expanded family. I'm hoping that the daughter's (adoptive) parents also welcome her (birth) mother into their lives with equal appreciation and respect. I'm hoping that a relationship can be forged between the younger daughter and her newly found sister. I'm hoping that this mother-daughter-pair can continue to build a relationship despite differences that are bound to arise. (Ya know, like in marriage? When you realize that your perfect mate always forgets to reload the toilet paper roll? Or, even worse, loads it facing the wrong way? And other things...)

And so, that's your feel-good story for the day. Warm-fuzzies for all!

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For more reunion stories, read:

1. A Birth Father and His Daughter Reunite.

2. Sperm Donor Reunion.

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Photo Credit.