For those of you who really know me, you know that my parents and I are unusually close. We have dinner together every Thursday and eat lunch together every Saturday. I speak to them at least once a day (if not more). While they can both annoy the hell outta me, they are also probably two of my closest friends, allies, supporters, and co-goofballs! My parents would do anything for me and are truly my biggest cheerleaders. They have been through the fire with me, but hey, that’s their job right?!
My mom and I have been travel partners to such places as Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa as well various quick trips around the US. While my dad has just recently decided to join our overseas jaunts—he has quickly fallen in line with the travel rhythm that my mom and I have had for a couple of decades!!!
However, as close as I am to them, NOTHING could have prepared me for their relationship with K. My mom travelled with me when I went to get K. She made the 26 hour journey with me (26 hours both ways, so a total of 52 hours) and we were only there a week! She was at my house EVERY single day of my “maternity leave” and helped me learn how to become a mom! While he loves my mom, he is IN LOVE with my dad! It has been amazing to see how these two guys have become so close in the short year that we have been “Team Williams!” My dad is like a new creation; it’s like K has breathed new life into my father. He has never been the giggly, grinny kind of Grandpa with his 6 other grandkids, but he is with this one. It’s almost as though my son was born and placed in my life simply to bring joy into my Dad’s life.
When I first made the announcement, “I am pursuing my adoption!” my mom simply said, “It’s about time!” My dad, however, was very concerned. He was nervous, skeptical, concerned, and quite frankly worried that I would “end up” with an AIDS baby or a situation where a birth mom would change her mind and decide that she wanted to parent. Let’s face it, the Compassion International commercials do me no favors (no I am not knocking the work they do. I support their work, but to the unknowing person, all they see are the bloated belly, flies in the eyes kids! *Don’t send me evil messages, I know, I know. I am making general statements, but…). Even once I explained the process of international adoption, he was still apprehensive. Let’s face it—I am his baby and I am not married and have never “had” children. He wasn’t just concerned for me, but he was concerned for this kid too! Yet, he still supported me in the best way he could through the process and then…he laid eyes on K and the rest is history!
For the past several months, K has been playing soccer (I use the term “playing” loosely). My dad picks him up every Saturday and takes him, helps him, plays soccer with him, and brings him home. Ironically enough, I didn’t think my dad would make it through to the end, but he has LOVED every second of it. I have offered, several times, to take K and my dad has blatantly said, “NO!” It’s “their” time together and they both love it. According to K, “It’s just us guys Mama! NO GIRLS! Ok?!”
This week was the last week and while my dad didn’t really say anything (he is a man of many words, he just chooses not to use all of them!), I could tell he was bummed. All he really said was, “Are you gonna try to find something else for K to do? I wouldn’t mind taking him…. If you need me to!” I love the way they love each other. I love that my dad is THE male influence in K’s life. I am so blessed that we are as close as we are and that they can help me raise my son! I love that I am close to my father but have had the chance to see him in a different capacity—World’s Greatest Grandpa—at least to K!!!
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