So Much Better With Age

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It’s All About Me

Life Series

It’s All About Me

 Today it’s all about me. Tiny bit selfish I know, but it is my blog.

Ever since I started this blog of mine, I’ve debated on whether to share more personal stories with you. There have been a few I’ve shared like this one and this one.

I have an unusual past/story. I’m sure most people do. No two lives are the same and everything that happens in your life shapes the way you are.

Hopefully by sharing personal stories you will find a tiny piece of me in you and

Okay, here we go!

baby Jamie somuchbetterwithage.com

See that chubby baby? That’s me. I weighed 10 lbs when I was born.

I was a few weeks old when I was adopted and my adoptive parents at the time were pretty young couple (around 25 years). That seems a bit young to adopt a baby but it was the 70s.

My childhood for the most part was great! I was an adored little girl. My parents really wanted a baby so I was doted on all the time and dressed me up like a little doll too. I always had a dress on. Like always.

{Perhaps that’s why I don’t care for dresses anymore, ha!}

baby Jamie somuchbetterwithage.com

I knew absolutely nothing about my birth mother my whole life but I knew I was adopted from the very beginning. Sometimes I thought it was pretty cool and sometimes it really sucked.

This is when it sucked:  My parents couldn’t have children but nine months later my (adoptive) mom got pregnant (having a sister was pretty cool, this isn’t the sucky part). The doctors said it was like a one and a million chance that she would get pregnant so my sister was like one in a million. She was similar to my mom in looks and personality and as such they had a tight bond. A bond that I felt I could never be a part of. She was one in a million.

baby Jamie somuchbetterwithage.com

It also sucked when people would say how much my sister looked like my parents. If people saw me, my sister and mother out together they would comment that I must look like my father. My mother would say yes and quite honestly I kinda did so it was no big deal most of the time. But sometimes at family functions people like to go on and on about how certain people have the same chin/ears/nose/eyes as another family member and it often made me feel left out (that’s just one example).

baby Jamie somuchbetterwithage.com

This is when it was pretty cool:  like when you find out bad stuff about your adoptive family and think,

phew!  I’m not going to get those genes!

 I was able to connect with my birth mother in my 20s and it turns out my adoptive family has many similarities as my birth family so that might not be much of an advantage 😉

I only know my birth mother’s side so there is a still a lot unknown but all I do know is that I’m 100% me!

That’s a bit about my life. If you’d like to read more, click the link below.

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Comments

  1. It’s nice to read more about you, Jamie! Adopting is very important to me as my Grandmother grew up in an orphanage (and was never adopted) and then went on to adopt one of her children. I want to have a child of my own, but I definitely see the importance in adopting.
    Thank you for opening up & sharing part of your story.

    Reply

  2. Jamie, I’ve been a follower for a while and I’ve never commented before but I felt that I had to today. You are not alone! My story is similar to yours with just a few differences. I was adopted, too, and my adopted parents couldn’t have their own biological children. They never did. And I wasn’t two weeks old; I was 8 years old. Until then, I had been with my biological family and I grew up knowing them. I almost always wished that I didn’t know them or anything about them! It was very emotionally draining being around them (and still is). I was always envious of adoptees who didn’t know their birth family (I have a cousin like that). And I was told on occasion by people who didn’t know I was adopted that I looked like my adopted mother! lol. I could go into greater detail but this comment would be far too long. I just wanted to let you know that you’re not alone.

    Reply

    • Treva, thank you for your sweet comment! I loved hearing about your story. I can’t imagine what it must have been like for you. I’ve actually met my birth mother now and have a relationship with her (more stories to come on that soon) but I can see what you mean. It’s sometimes better not knowing. Please email me if you ever want to chat more: [email protected]
      Hugs,
      Jamie

      Reply

  3. I am so proud of you. So freaking proud. I know this took a whole lot of gut and courage and you rocked it. You. Are. Amazing. Freaking amazing! xoxo

    Reply

  4. Thank you for sharing a little of yourself with us. Guess what, you are indeed a writer. I follow you on Facebook. Have wanted to blog myself, but can’t get started. Thanks again for stepping out, being brave and sharing.

    Reply

    • Thanks so much, Dian! You’re too kind. Thanks for being a follower. If you want to start a blog, you should definitely try it. Email me if you want 😉
      Hugs,
      Jamie

      Reply

  6. I had a whole fairytale life about if my parents weren’t divorced so I understand an alternate life dream. 🙂 I also had imaginary friends. Yep plural, actually a town of pretend people. Apparently I pretend big. lol

    Reply

    • haha, that’s awesome! A whole town of imaginary friends, so awesome! I guess we all dream big at times especially when things are rough or difficult. Thanks for sharing 😉
      Hugs,
      Jamie

      Reply

  7. Jamie I really enjoyed reading some of your story – and I have to say you were (and still are) totally adorable. I love those dimples! I agree with you about not going on and on about how your biological kids look like family if you have adopted kids. Seems like a no-brainer but some people just don’t get it!

    Reply

  8. I got chills reading this story, Jamie. Mostly because I admire you for taking a risk in putting yourself out there through telling your story. It inspires me to share more of my story, too. Because like you said, we all have stories to tell. And we never know who we might encourage or bless in the telling of it…. Thanks for sharing yours! I can’t wait to learn even more about you and your life journey. HUGS!

    Reply

  9. Jamie, I love getting to hear more about you and your story! We all have something unique and special that we can share and learn from each other. But it’s not always easy to put it out there. So kudos to you, girl, for putting it out there!!

    Reply

  11. Thank you for sharing your story. The best of all is that your birth mother chose life! What would the world be without you, Jamie? You have touched many and you are a gift to us all.

    Reply

    • Jean! You’re so right! I often think of that. It’s amazing what mothers who give up their babies go through. And what all mothers go through. Thanks so much for your kind words.
      Hugs,
      Jamie

      Reply

  12. Its funny, I have a few friends who are adopted, or have adopted, and I am always amazed at how similar they look to their family. I think Nurture can affect mannerisms more so than Nature. I comment on that because it surprises me. It makes me think that we are put in the families we are supposed to end up in. I can’t wait to hear more!

    Reply

  13. I am so glad you left a comment on your blog and I found yours. Cheers to you for telling your story. I was very hesitant for months on how much personal to put on the blog, but the outpour and positive reactions have been wonderful. Now off to read the 10 things not to say.

    Reply

    • It is really hard putting yourself out there but it’s wonderful when you feel like you are helping out others (even if just one 😉
      Hugs, Jamie

      Reply

  14. So happy to have stumbled upon your blog! I’m also a blogger, and also an adoptee with a unique adoption story. I’ve posted about my experience a few times and am hoping to post more since this month is national adoption awareness month! Happy to have found another adoptee, and keep sharing your stories!

    Reply

  15. Thanks for sharing a piece of your story with us.

    Like you, I was adopted at birth in the 1970s. Back then, they tried to match babies with the baby pictures of their adopted parents (at least the CAS that I was adopted out of) so I look a lot like my parents and my (also adopted) brother (different birth parents).

    While I didn’t receive the comments you did, I’ve always wished (to this day) that I could see a picture of my biological parents just to see if I looked like them. Which, since having kids, as you have found, I most certainly will.

    Life is so very complicated, no matter what your story. I hope that you find joy in more of your stories than you find sorrow in.

    Looking forward to reading more.

    Besos, Sarah
    Journeys of The Zoo

    Reply

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