My New Family (IP)

I guess this piece is about my new beginning with my new family. It sounds very complicated and I was not a baby when it happened.

I am Kayleigh. I am now in my 30’s but 20 years ago I got a new family when I was finally adopted. I don’t talk about it much as I consider my adoptive family my family.

My story starts where every story starts, at the moment of my birth. My brother was a year older, different dad but same mum and I guess that's where the problems started. From what I have been told, my dad didn’t like my brother.

Everything I am telling now is only what I have been told by members of my birth family. My dad was abusive to my brother, classic Irish drunk and my mum was epileptic. My birth mum died 2 years ago and my birth dad never talks to me even though I know him and he knows me.

Well now onto the new beginning. I was in foster care for 3 years and finally the time came when my brother and I were told we would be leaving for our forever home together. Someone at long last wanted us. 

I was very nervous and was told they lived in the countryside. We went for visits and I thought I would get a horse as their house was kind of in the middle of nowhere. I didn’t get a horse but I got something even better, a loving family who are still there for me today.

I remember my first night in my room thinking there were ghosts because everything creaked and it was colder as there was no central heating. I snuggled in the bed and my new mum made sure I had some relaxing music and a dimmer light to feel safe. I felt at home and still do think of it as my home even though I have moved out and live with my husband.

My son now spends time at his nanny and popsy’s house and I couldn’t have asked for better parents or a better beginning in my life. They saved me and my brother and I saved them. They couldn’t have children of their own and we made their lives better by being there.