ʜᴇʀ ᴀꜱꜱɪꜱᴛᴀɴᴛ | ᴛᴀʀᴀꜱɪᴀ

ᴛᴡᴇɴᴛʏ ᴛʜʀᴇᴇ

ꜰᴀɴᴛᴀꜱɪᴀ ʙᴀʀʀɪɴᴏ
ᴊᴜne 31, 2020
ᴀᴅᴏᴘᴛɪᴏɴ ʜᴇᴀʀɪɴɢ.

"why do you want to adopt this child?"

"well, because i love her more than life, and i want her to be a part of my life forever. she's changed me in ways she doesn't know about in just four months. she's my happy place. so yeah, that's why."

"how do you plan to handle instruction/discipline?"

"im very gentle and patient, so for me, i would rather talk first and let her know like this is something you can't do. like last night she went into the pantry and dropped the cooking flour all over the floor and instead of yelling why she did it i stooped down to her level and i was basically telling her like you know if you have a hard time reaching something let me or her mother know and we'll help her get it. she said okay and walked away with a huge smile on her face. kids can't handle aggression, and i wouldn't dare take that route with her ever."

"how long have this child lived with you?"

"three months going on four."

"have you discussed this adoption with the child's other parent?"

"well yes she's actually the one who gave me the papers to sign." i looked over at a smiling taraji.

"okay, and are you prepared to raise and educate the child as your own?"

"more than, and with her only being four, i have more than enough time to educate her on new things before she reaches that age where she'll know because of what she learned when she was younger. me raising her will never be a problem. before this, i had it on lock, so yeah, im prepared."

"do you have any concerns about your ability to provide a safe and stable home for the child?"

"no concerns at all. her mother and i are already providing her with a stable and supportive home environment, so that won't be a problem."

"alright, and do you understand the legal implications of adopting this child?"

"yes, and im ready to become her parent and also take care of the responsibilities that come along with."

"okay, ms.barrino, you may take your seat." my heart was racing as i walked back to my chair. taraji and laila sat in the juror seats.

"mommy, there's tai tai!" laila yelled. taraji laughed, trying to shush her.

"yes, that's tai tai baby."

"hey, mama." i smiled, waving at her.

"hey mama" she mocked me. i felt myself getting ready to cry. i know she was only repeating what she heard me say, but it was beautiful to hear. the juror in which it was my family were in awe just as i and raji were.

"i love you, baby." i slightly shouted, letting my tears run freely down my face.

"i love you too."

"she's my life." i whispered to myself.

"Fantasia Barrino, you are now the legal guardian of the adoptee, Laila Amelia Henson-Barrino." i jumped up out of my chair and ran to taraji, jumping on her. she spun me around.

"you hyphenated our names?"

"i did" she said with the biggest smile there is. i fell back into her, hugging her tightly.

"thank you, baby. so much."

"you're welcome, always." i pulled back and kissed her over and over. she placed me on my feet, and i went over to laila, picking her up.