Early Childhood Reflections
The world that Alex knew was one of warmth, love, and support from their adoptive parents. Alex was placed for adoption as an infant, and they grew up in a world where the word “adopted” was never a burden but a fact of their identity. Often growing up, Alex had moments where curiosity about their biological origins would surface. These were innocent but profound questions—where did they come from? What did their biological parents look like? What was their culture, and did it influence who they became?
His adoptive parents were always pushing these questions, but it wasn’t clear what it all meant. Such discussions of origins were largely careful not to tell Alex where they had come from, lest they be loved for where they came from instead of who they are. As Alex grew through the phases of youth and adolescence, the longing to know became ever more insistent. This lack of real knowledge about his own roots was like a void, leaving an unfinished quality to life.
The complexity of adoption became more apparent during Alex’s teenage years. While the adoptive family was always loving, Alex began to wonder how they might fit into the broader world. Their classmates had relationships with their biological parents, traditions they adhered to, and histories they could trace. Alex began to question: could they ever feel whole without knowing the answers to the questions they had carried for so long? It wasn’t about replacing the family they knew and loved, but about finding the missing pieces of their own personal puzzle.
