The words ‘I love you’ are the ones we humans crave to hear throughout our lives, not just in romantic relationships but also from our friends, parents, or siblings. Angela Jacobs’s world changed when she heard these words after 16 years of waiting. She adopted a baby, scared who was only seven years old. The baby feared the world and its people when an angel adopted him.
Angela adopted him with the wish to protect him from the cruel world and be his safe place. She did not just act as a wonderful mother for him, but also a fantastic friend and protector. However, a decade passed, and the silent wish of hearing how his baby, one he loved so wholeheartedly, despite not being his mother by blood, loved her back. It was a casual day; she would drop him off at his basketball practice when he finally said, ‘I love you.’ Angela and her husband were licensed foster parents and had fostered tens of children. Not just this, they also adopted five children to give them a home and a beautiful life ahead.
Nine years earlier, she never thought she would again opt to foster another child, as the couple’s foster parents’ license had also expired. However, the call they received from the agency was surprising, but in their fate, the baby was written to belong to their home. The fact that the couple had already adopted his biological sister persuaded them to make him a permanent part of their family, too. At least, the couple would not separate the siblings when they had the chance to grow up together.
Angela states that the baby wth fearful expressions was not scared but angry because of the pain he had to go through. He was separated from his family; could it get any worse? Because the baby’s sister was already a part of Angel’s home, they were unaware of their biological bond. It was a sure thing that the adjustments and forming a bond based on love only would require time, probably years. However, Angela was ready to do it all for the child. It was a journey of therapy and patience, but the results were soon visible when the boy showed signs of trust and joy.
What was apparently hurtful was that his bond with the siblings and Angela’s husband was stronger and formed easily, but the boy kept his distance from Angela as if he could not love her. He was polite and well-behaved, but she never received a reply despite Angela telling her that she loved her. For once, Angel wished for him to call her Mom, but it wasn’t granted for years. After two years had passed with him living with the family, the court terminated all rights from his biological parents, and the adoption was official.
After the adoption was successful, he acted like he had started to develop a comfort zone with her. Angela understood that it wasn’t that he disliked Angela, but he wanted to stay true to his biological mother, probably because he was hopeful she would return. He was just reluctant to open up. Just like that, a decade passed, and although their bond had progressed a lot all these years, he never uttered the three words Angela wished to hear.
Then came the magical day when she finally heard him say, ‘I love you.’ As he stepped out of the car, she received a response to her usual “I love you.” She was overwhelmed to see that it was not a nod or a smirk this time but a reply! Angela recalls tearing up that day while she drove home because his reply meant the world to her. He finally acknowledged her as his mother.
