Carolyn and David joined their family thru our Estonian Program

My Estonian Adoption Story

            In February 2003, while at home nursing a broken leg, I saw pictures on the Internet of two children I fell in love with.  Their names were Carolyn and David, a brother and sister (she was four, he was three) and it turned out the contact information for them was my agency.  I immediately called about the children but someone else was already interested.  However, after an agonizing three-four weeks (and checking the website every day!) I finally got the call that Carolyn and David were available.  I frantically completed my paperwork for Estonia (I had been planning to adopt from Russia).

            My mom and I left for Estonia on May 14, 2003, arriving the next evening on Friday we met with the Chief Specialist of the Social Welfare Department, who was very gracious and spoke English.  She made the appointment for us to go to the orphanage that day to meet the children.

            I was nervous on the one and-a-half hour drive to Valjandi, the little town where the orphanage was.  I didn’t know what to expect or how the children would react to me.  We were met by Lemke, the orphanage director, who gave us some background information on Carolyn and David.  Then we were taken in to meet them, first Carolyn, then David.  When I walked into the large playroom, where the older children were, I saw Carolyn.  She must have been told about me, and her whole face lit  up and she ran over to hug me.  It was indescribable – as though she wanted to welcome me and put me at ease.  The other children gathered around as I gave out presents – all vying for attention and very sweet, thrilled with the toys I’d brought, but Carolyn and I were busy bonding.

            Then we went up to see David, who was with the younger children.  They were so adorable, and interested in us.  David didn’t pay too much attention to me but I fell in love with him immediately.  We spent some time alone together with David and Carolyn in Lemke’s office. We shared special presents with them and had some freshly baked rhubarb pastry, made from the fruit they had picked on the orphanage grounds. The hardest part was leaving them, but it turned out it was only hard for me – the children waved goodbye with big smiles and went back to their own routine.

            We were able to visit with them on Saturday and Sunday as well.  It was obvious that the children were well cared for, had plenty of toys, and the orphanage was immaculate.  But when the other kids tried to take my attention away from Carolyn, the worker told them that it was Carolyn’s time with her mother but this was a good thing that she found a family and that one day it would be their turn to have a family too.  Lemke told us that the children are all waiting for the day when they will belong to a family.  The workers are very dedicated, and prepare the children for their transition to their new family.  The children have also seen other children getting adopted, so they know the parents have to leave but that they do come back.

Jackie Borock

jaborock@aol.com