Oral History

I interviewed my best friend Matt because he was adopted and I wanted to get his thoughts on that.

When did you find out you were adopted?
Oh, my parents never kept that from me. They told me when I was first able to speak.

How did you feel about this?
I was cool with it. Eh, whatever. They are my parents now. They are the only parents I've ever known.

Do you ever want to meet your real parents?
Nah. They gave me up. They realized they couldn't afford to have me and gave up their rights to find me. Why should I invade their lives all of the sudden?! Im happy with the parents I was given.

Do you know anything about your real parents?
I know that they were young. Maybe in their 20s and they already had other kids and decided they couldn't afford me but didn't want to get an abortion so adoption was the best option so that they could give me a better life.

Do you ever want to meet your brothers and or sisters?
Ummm I never really thought about that and I'm not sure I want to... I... I don't know. I think it would be weird you know?

Why did your parents decide to adopt?
Well, yeah... my mom can't have kids. She tried six times and had six miscarriages. The doctor told her to stop trying because there was something wrong with her uterus and it would heurt her and the baby. I feel real sorry for her.

Do you know how your adoption happened and what your parents went through to get you?
Well my parents waited for a long time until they came across me and they had to sign all these papers and go to court and finalize everything. It was a very long process. I remember my mom telling me they put me in her arms and she almost didn't get me at one point, but i looked at the judge and smiled and totally won him over. My mom was sure as hell not letting me go that day.

Do you like the life you were given?
Oh god yes. I love my parents. Wouldn't trade them for the world. They give me food, shelter, clothes, and anything else I really want or need. Like my car. She's my baby. [His parents bought him a 2004 Infiniti G35 for a graduation present.]

Do you think you would have turned out differently if you were given different parents?
Oh! Most definitely. My parents are the greatest. I think they are wonderful parents. They taught me a lot of good life lessons and I love them for it. They taught me wrong from right and how to deal with life when it's good or bad. If I had different parents I would have learned different perspectives on life and I would have thought differently about issues in the world and I would definitely handle situations just a whole lot differently. The way you turn out has a lot to do with who raises you and how.

When you get older and even married would you consider adoption?
I definitely would. It give kids opportunities they would have never had with their real parents. All children need love and affection and if I had the money like my parents do then i would definitely love to adopt.