The Best Gift I Have Ever Received

I am going to have to go with a cliche and say that love is the greatest gift I have ever received. Why? Well, in order to tell you, I am going to have to tell you a bit about my life and the people who have shown me love and shaped who I am today.

Before I begin, you must understand that what I am writing is my point of view. I do not intend to cause offence to my readers or the people I will be writing about.

My journey into the world of love would have begun around the time my Birth Mother (B.M.) found out she was pregnant with me. Yes, she was young, foolish and an impressionable teenager. She had gotten involved with a man almost twice her age, and I was the result of their union.

The first gift of love my B.M. gave to me was to ensure that I made it through nine months of pregnancy and came into this world, screaming and fighting. The second gift of love this young woman gave was the gift that only a parent can give; the gift of unconditional love.

From the moment I was born, the world was a brutal place. My B.M. struggled to care for me and, sadly, I ended up in foster care when I was less than a year old. I believe though, it was a tough time for all and decisions were not made lightly. Remember, my B.M. was very young and the year was 1980, a tough time for being a parent.

Next comes the greatest gift of love my B.M could give me; the one thing I will always be grateful for. This gift is so special, I am crying now as I write this. My B.M. signed the papers to have me adopted out; a heartbreaking choice for her, but the best one for me.

For now, this is where her gifts of love end, but there are many more people who have freely given me love, even though I was a real demon.

My second birthday was to be the turning point in my life. From here on in I was to have a stable home and a family who were going to do everything they could to enrich my life. Enter my adoptive parents, known from here as Mum and Dad.

Even though they knew I was a highly disturbed child, they took me into their home and hearts and raised me as their own flesh and blood, though much sweat and tears were shed along the way.

They gave me so much love and cared for me so deeply and I was a little sot in return. The battle was on, but Mum was a determined woman of great strength and impeccable character. She loved me so furiously, even through the years this battle raged, that in the end she won.

My Dad, well, he was pretty much out of

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