My name is Vicente Piland. I was 6 years old and was in foster care for about 2 years. In that 2 years I was bounced in and out of four different foster homes. I was too young to know/have any say on who my foster parents were. I was so scared the first time. My first foster parents came to Valley of the Moon to observe me. I went home with them that day. I didn’t really want to go because I wanted Valley of the Moon to be my home. I already knew everyone there. Every time I moved to another foster home it was different. My first foster family tried to make me feel welcome, but they weren’t all like that. Every time I was put in a foster home, I knew they would move me again, I just didn’t know when.
Then one day I was taken to meet with these people. I saw them a lot and the more time I spent with them, the more I liked them and was hoping they would adopt me. When they told me that they were going to adopt me, I was so relieved and happy. I was eight years old when they adopted me. The day they adopted me, I was overwhelmed. There were so many people there that I hadn’t met yet. Since I already lived with them, I thought I was already adopted, so I was a little confused. When the judge made if official, I finally felt safe.
The first four years, I was happy I was adopted, but with my friends I felt differently because they weren’t adopted. I was embarrassed that I didn’t have “real parents”. It was different with my parents than it was with foster parents. When I did something wrong, my parents talked to me and told me that I did something wrong. I didn’t understand when I got in trouble because I hadn’t experienced that with my foster parents. I thought they were mad at me, but they explained to me it was because they loved me and wanted to teach me right from wrong. Then I realized being adopted was a gift. I was lucky because not that many kids get adopted. I was happy with my family because they taught me a lot. They showed me “real love” that parents are supposed to show they kids. I had never experienced this before.
I’ve been with my parents for almost nine years now, more than half my life. My mom inspired me to do this blog to help other kids that are going through the same things I went through. I decided it was time for me to give back.
Life isn’t easy, that’s why you have to challenge yourself.
You choose your destination…believe in yourself.
And always remember…you deserve to be loved!
suecares.com
