Deal With It!

Deal With It!

Often Said To Adoptees:

You have the best parents.
So, your genes aren't theirs-
who cares?
Deal with it.

You don't have a birth certificate?
Merely words on a sheet-
just take a seat and
deal with it.

No medical history?
Why be concerned-unless
there's a crisis; then
deal with it.

Your mom gave you away?
You're better off this way,
ungrateful young lady!
Deal with it.


Response From Adoptees:

We stand together strong
against society's wrongs.
We WILL
deal with it.

Working to change laws,
there are so many flaws.
we WILL
deal with it.

Awesome and mighty are we!
Just take a step back and see!
We WILL
deal with it.

Pat Nelson
May 21, 2008
Modified July 12, 2011

I wrote this in honor of adult adoptees who believe they should have access to the medical history of their birth parents and who believe their ancestry matters. They aren't ungrateful children; they love their adoptive families. They just want to connect with their roots. Most of us have photos of relatives with whom we share genes. We see a resemblance here or there. We may recognize personality traits we share. Adopted children and adults miss that. No matter how emotionally connected they feel to their adoptive families, there is something missing that they cannot repair.