The Past Within - Mialotte - TNN

Adoption

Charlotte walked into Dr. Peterson's office for her next therapy session, her mind racing with thoughts about the past few weeks. She had barely slept the night before, running through every possible scenario of what could happen with Jemma's adoption. The uncertainty gnawed at her, but a small, growing part of her held on to hope.

As she sat down on the familiar couch, Dr. Peterson smiled warmly at her, sensing the weight Charlotte carried. "It's good to see you again, Charlotte," she said, her voice as calm as always. "You've had quite a few things happening lately, haven't you?"

Charlotte gave a short, nervous laugh. "Yeah, you could say that," she replied, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. She leaned back on the couch, folding her hands together tightly in her lap. "I guess the biggest thing is the adoption process with Jemma. It's... it's been a lot."

Dr. Peterson nodded gently, her expression encouraging Charlotte to continue. "Tell me more about that. How has the process been going so far?"

Charlotte took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "Well, we've been fostering her for a little while now, and things have been going really well. Jemma's... I mean, she's incredible. She's bright, she's sweet, and she's resilient—so much more than I ever could have imagined for a little girl who's gone through so much. But the process of officially adopting her has been really emotional."

Dr. Peterson shifted slightly in her chair, her attention focused entirely on Charlotte. "That makes a lot of sense. Adoption is a big commitment, and you're probably facing a lot of unknowns. How have you been handling it?"

Charlotte bit her lip, her eyes darting down to her hands, which were now nervously fidgeting in her lap. "It's been hard," she admitted quietly. "I mean, I love her already. Mia does too. We love her so much, and the idea that someone else could take her away from us..." Her voice caught, and she paused, trying to keep her emotions in check. "It's terrifying."

Dr. Peterson gave her a moment before speaking. "That fear is completely valid, Charlotte. You've bonded with Jemma, and of course, you want to protect her. But I wonder—what's the process been like from a more logistical standpoint? Have you and Mia faced any hurdles?"

Charlotte nodded slowly. "Yeah. It feels like there are a million hoops to jump through. Social workers, background checks, home inspections, legal documents... It's overwhelming. And even though everything has gone smoothly so far, I can't help but feel like something could still go wrong."

Dr. Peterson tilted her head thoughtfully. "What makes you think something could go wrong?"

"I guess it's because of how much I want this," Charlotte said, her voice cracking slightly. "I've never wanted anything more than I want to be Jemma's mom. But... I keep thinking about my own mom, and how things were between us. What if I mess this up? What if I'm not good enough for her?"

Dr. Peterson leaned forward, her expression softening even more. "Charlotte, it's natural to worry, especially when it comes to something as important as raising a child. But I want you to remember something: you are not your mother. You've worked hard to grow and heal from those wounds, and from what you've shared with me over the past few months, it's clear that you are deeply committed to giving Jemma the love and care she needs."

Charlotte swallowed hard, blinking away the tears that threatened to spill. "I know," she whispered. "I know I'm not my mom. But sometimes I still feel that fear creeping in—that I'm not enough, that I'll make the same mistakes she did."

Dr. Peterson nodded slowly, allowing the silence to settle for a moment. "It's okay to feel that fear, Charlotte. It doesn't mean you're going to fail. What's important is how you respond to those fears. You've shown time and time again that you're willing to face them, to grow, and to do what's best for Jemma."