‘Gotcha Day’ a special way to celebrate child’s adoption
As parents of an adopted child, we were concerned about when we would have “the conversation.” Then a neighbor told us about how they would celebrate “Gotcha Day” with their adopted daughter each year.
Gotcha Day is a day to celebrate, because it’s the day we became a family. We “adopted” their idea and have been doing something special on this day since before our child could even say the word “gotcha.”
Early on, she just knew it was a special day for us. Through the years, she was able to process exactly what it meant at her own pace, which relieved the need to ever have that dreaded conversation. Recently our daughter told us she loves this day more than her actual birthday!
I thought I’d share this with other adoptive parents who worry about when the right time might be to explain to their child that they were prayed for, wanted, loved and adopted. I had never heard of anything like this, but I think it’s a great concept and certainly worth sharing. Thank you!
After 32 years of marriage, my wife went out and got a tattoo on her shoulder. She did it without any advance discussion with me, which has left me sort of shocked. Her position is that it’s her body and she’ll do what she wants. This has driven a wedge between us, and I’m not sure if we can move forward. What is your advice?
To me, what’s important is not that your wife got the tattoo without discussing it with you, but her motive for doing it in secret. My advice is to try to get her to explain to you what the tattoo symbolizes to her, because it may be important.
My coworker tried to commit suicide last year. She took eight months off after that. Now we are approaching the oneyear anniversary.
We work for a small, family-owned business. Everyone knows she tried to kill herself, but no one knows why. She has reduced her hours and her stress level, at least at work. I have picked up most of her duties, and I’m quick to lend a hand but not comfortable lending an ear. How do we handle this situation?
— Blessed Parents in Pennsylvania — Unmarked in Nevada Dear Unmarked: — Uncomfortable
If your co-worker wanted to disclose her reason(s) for trying to kill herself, you would already know what drove her. Be sensitive and don’t draw attention to it unless she brings it up.