My adopted children got a letter from their birth mother the day before my 86th birthday. Instead of celebrating with me, they decided to meet her. What they learned was shocking and changed everything.
“Mom, I know you and Dad gave us so much love, but I can’t lie. I’m curious about this woman,” my daughter Emily said over the phone. I thought she was calling to confirm plans for my birthday, but she had something serious to tell me. I didn’t realize how much I wasn’t ready for it.
Many years ago, my husband Kevin and I wanted children, but after trying for so long, nothing happened. It broke my heart, especially since I felt like I wasn’t enough. Kevin also had fertility issues, but I couldn’t stop worrying about it.
When we were almost 40, we applied to adopt, and a pregnant teenager chose us. We were so happy! We were open to letting her stay involved, but she preferred a closed adoption. We respected her wishes.
Soon after, we discovered she was having twins—a boy and a girl! Without hesitation, we adopted them both, named them Emily and Ethan, and gave them all the love we could.
We were in our 40s, financially secure, and ran a business that gave us plenty of time to spend with our kids. It was challenging at times, but we wouldn’t change anything.
Kevin and I adored watching our babies sleep, and Kevin would often say, “This was the best decision we ever made.” I would smile back, my heart full of love.
Emily grew up loving sports, especially basketball, and earned a scholarship to UCLA. Ethan, on the other hand, was brilliant, excelling in school and math. He got into Stanford, and although it was hard to see him go, we were so proud.
Life went on, and they got married and had children of their own. But when Kevin passed away when we were 80, I was devastated. Luckily, Emily and her husband Richard, and Ethan and his wife Susan, supported me through it all.
One day, Emily told me, “Mom, we’ll always be here for you. I want my kids to have a happy grandma who bakes cookies!” That made me smile through my grief.
But then Emily’s phone call changed everything.
“But honey, it’s my birthday tomorrow,” I said, surprised that Emily and Ethan weren’t coming. My health hadn’t been great, and I was hoping to see my family. Emily’s silence told me something was wrong.
“Mom, we got a letter from a woman claiming to be our birth mother,” Emily revealed. She wanted to meet us tomorrow. I was shocked.
The adoption had been closed, so this was completely unexpected. Emily sounded upset, and I wasn’t sure if it was because of me or the situation.
“I didn’t think it mattered,” I tried to explain, my voice trembling. “I can tell you everything now. But why on my birthday?”
“Mom, she doesn’t live in Pasadena anymore, and Ethan and I are mad you didn’t tell us. We need time to think.”
My heart sank. “Please come over tonight, and we can talk it out.” But Emily needed time. She promised to call later, but her voice was choked with emotion. I could hear her crying.
The next day was my birthday, but I didn’t hear from my kids. It was heartbreaking. Friends and cousins sent birthday greetings, but nothing from Emily or Ethan.
I wondered if they had already met their birth mother. I felt abandoned and unsure if they were angry with me.
Just as I was about to go to bed, the doorbell rang.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” my family shouted. Emily and Ethan stood at the door with a cake. I couldn’t believe it. They had come after all!
We hugged, and tears filled my eyes. I was so relieved and happy. We celebrated together, and the kids brought food, gifts, and joy to my home. But Emily pulled me aside to talk privately.
“Mom, you don’t have to apologize for anything,” she told me. Ethan agreed, explaining that they felt conflicted and needed time to process everything. I was grateful for their words, but I had to ask about their birth mother.
Emily sighed and told me, “It didn’t go well. We don’t trust her.”
“Why not?” I asked.
“She talked about herself for hours,” Emily explained. “She didn’t seem interested in getting to know us, just her accomplishments.”
Ethan added, “And then she told us she’s sick, and it seemed like she just wanted something from us.”
They didn’t feel like she had been looking for them for years as she claimed. It was all about what she needed from them.
“I don’t think I want to talk to her again,” Ethan said.
Emily, however, was conflicted. But then she looked at me and said, “You’re my mom. You’ve always been my only mom.”
Tears filled my eyes again, and we hugged. Even Ethan, who was usually so serious, was emotional.
“A mother is the one who raises you, not the one who gives birth to you,” Ethan added.
At that moment, I knew that everything would be alright. Their love for me was strong, and I was still their mom.
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Emily’s words warmed my heart like nothing else could. “You’re my mom. You’ve always been my only mom.” For a moment, time stood still, and all the confusion and fear I had been carrying dissolved into the embrace of my children. I held them close, their warmth reminding me of all the years we had shared, all the laughter, all the tears. Nothing could erase that.
As we stood there, huddled together, I realized that this was the moment I had feared for so long. When they were children, I had often wondered whether there would come a day when they’d want to seek out their birth mother, and how that would affect our relationship. But here we were, and they were still mine.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier,” I said softly, brushing the tears from my cheeks. “I just never wanted you to feel different or unloved. I wanted you to know that you were my children, no matter what.”
Ethan, ever the logical one, squeezed my hand. “Mom, we know that now. It was confusing at first, but the more we thought about it, the more we realized that nothing could change the bond we have with you.”
Emily nodded, wiping her eyes. “Yeah, and meeting Amanda—it put things into perspective. She may have given birth to us, but she wasn’t there for the scraped knees, the late-night talks, or the big moments in our lives. You were. You are our mother.”
I looked at both of them, their grown faces reflecting the same expressions I had seen since they were children—so much love, even when they were upset or unsure. They were the best parts of me and Kevin, the family we had built together.
“You know,” I began, trying to gather my thoughts. “There was a time when I worried about what would happen if you ever found out. I wondered if it would change how you saw me. But now I see that it didn’t matter. You’ve always been mine, and I’ve always been yours.”
Emily wrapped her arms around me again. “It didn’t change anything. If anything, it just made us appreciate you more. You didn’t have to take us in, but you did, and you gave us the best life. That means more than anything.”
“I’m just sorry you had to go through all this on your birthday,” Ethan added, looking apologetic. “We didn’t mean to hurt you, Mom. We just needed to figure things out.”
I smiled softly, shaking my head. “You did what you needed to do. I understand. And honestly, the fact that you’re here now—well, it’s the best birthday gift I could’ve ever asked for.”
We stood there for a few more moments, just holding on to each other, before Emily spoke again. “There’s something else,” she said, her voice tentative.
I looked at her, unsure of what else could come after everything that had happened. “What is it, honey?”
“We talked about it, Ethan and I, and… we don’t think we’re going to have any more contact with Amanda,” she admitted. “After everything she said, we realized that her motives weren’t pure. She didn’t reach out because she wanted to be part of our lives. She just wanted something from us.”
Ethan nodded in agreement. “It felt more like a transaction to her. She barely asked about us, Mom. It was all about her. We left that meeting feeling used, not reunited.”
My heart ached for them. I had worried that meeting Amanda would cause them pain, and it had. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that,” I said, pulling them close again. “You deserved better.”
“We have better,” Emily replied, her voice filled with conviction. “We have you.”
I smiled, but there was still something bothering me. “I don’t want to tell you what to do, but… if you ever want to know more about your birth mother, or if you change your mind and want to explore that relationship, I won’t hold it against you. You deserve to know your full story, whatever that means.”
Emily and Ethan exchanged a glance before Ethan spoke up. “We’ve talked about that too, and maybe someday we’ll want to know more. But right now, we’re happy with the life we’ve built—with you. We’re not ready to bring Amanda into our lives, especially after everything that happened.”
Emily added, “We realized something important after meeting her: family isn’t just about blood. It’s about love and the time you spend together. And you gave us everything we needed. You are our family.”
I couldn’t hold back my tears any longer. Hearing them say those words—words I had hoped for but never expected to hear—was the greatest gift I could have received. They didn’t need to choose between me and Amanda. In their hearts, I had always been their mother, and nothing could change that.
“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice shaky with emotion. “Thank you for coming back to me.”
“We never left, Mom,” Ethan said, smiling gently. “We were just a little lost for a minute.”
As the night wore on, we joined the rest of the family. The grandkids were laughing and playing, the house was filled with warmth and love, and for the first time in days, I felt truly at peace. We ate, we laughed, and I opened the thoughtful gifts they had brought. But the real gift was their presence, their love, and the reassurance that we were still the close-knit family we had always been.
At one point, Emily caught my eye from across the room and smiled. “Happy birthday, Mom,” she mouthed, and I smiled back, my heart swelling with gratitude.
As I sat in my living room that night, surrounded by my family, I realized that no matter what happened in the future, this moment was everything. My children knew who their real mother was, and I knew that I had done my best by them. There were no more secrets, no more worries about what could be. Just the knowledge that love—real, unconditional love—was what held us all together.
And as I blew out my birthday candles, I made a wish. Not for anything new or different, but for more moments like this. Moments filled with love, laughter, and the joy of being together. Because in the end, that’s all that truly mattered.
Julia Roberts Shares Rare Photo of Son Henry on His ‘Beautiful’ 17th Birthday
Henry, Julia Roberts’ “beautiful” son, turns 17 today: a rare look at her youngest Julia Roberts celebrated her youngest son’s 17th birthday on Instagram with a beautiful picture. Despite the unexpected image—Julia is typically known to be reticent about her children—she and her spouse have previously revealed incredible photos of Henry Moder that have left people in awe.
Date: June 29, 2024 Writer: James William None to say Henry, Julia Roberts’ “beautiful” son, turns 17 today: a rare look at her youngest Julia Roberts celebrated her youngest son’s 17th birthday on Instagram with a beautiful picture. Despite the unexpected image—Julia is typically known to be reticent about her children—she and her spouse have previously revealed incredible photos of Henry Moder that have left people in awe. A very happy birthday to the kid of Hollywood’s most renowned couple, Julia Roberts and Daniel Moder! Henry Moder, the youngest member of their family, turned seventeen on June 18. A flurry of encouraging remarks have been left on social media by his loving mother, who celebrated the joyous occasion with a number of beautiful mother-son messages. In the photo, the “Pretty Woman” actress is seen looking down at Henry, who is still a newborn. Her eyes are shining with delight and affection. The curious and charming baby seems absorbed in something outside of the frame, cradled in his mother’s protective arms.
Julia expressed both her pride and her shock in a succinct yet beautiful caption she penned for the picture. It’s incredible how this little child has developed into a fantastic 17-year-old! She wrote, “Happy Birthday, Henry! You are beautiful.” Although Julia and Henry’s father, Daniel, respect their children’s privacy, on occasion the pair provides exclusive photos and videos of their children. Daniel in particular has been entertaining fans on social media with videos of Henry, Hazel, and Phinnaeus Moder enjoying a good time, showcasing precious family moments.
Daniel posted a video on Instagram of Henry showing off his skating skills at a skate park. In the slow-motion video, the child can be seen riding his skateboard up an incline while wearing dark pants and an olive-colored t-shirt.Henry succeeds in turning the board around at the top of the ramp, putting his gorgeous face in the frame of the camera. Then, when the camera pans closer, his attractive eyes and face are shown in close-up.Daniel shared the incredible footage on June 18, 2021, in observance of Henry’s 14th birthday. The springs twist and swirl, swaying fourteen times in the air. Ya Henry,” the proud father captioned the photo.
In the post’s comment area, followers of the now-17-year-old were applauding and thanking him in addition to sharing their thoughts on which parent Henry most resembled. “He looks just like you. Nice child, said one of his supporters.In agreement, a second person remarked, “Looks precisely like his Dad!lovely offspring While acknowledging the father-son likeness, the other individual also highlighted Henry’s mother, remarking, “Has mom’s hair.” There is no denying that child. Hehe.On the other hand, a commenter on Instagram said, “This family obviously has no Roberts genes at all!” Once more, after Henry’s father-lookalike shared an earlier picture of his child on social media, people swarmed to the comments area.
Henry is seen in the 2018 picture posing casually stylish in a lighthouse. The boy on skates looked down at the camera, his long hair falling in a carefree way to frame his face.”Look closely to see the star spangled shorts,” Daniel captioned the surreal picture. One cool young person…Happy Fourth of July from a lighthouse near the Cape. Beneath the picture, an admirer remarked, “Handsome Henry,” and another, “Julia’s eyes.”Whether or not Henry and his siblings look alike, Julia is still incredibly in love with them. She has often boasted about them and places her responsibilities as a mother above all else.
During an interview promoting her latest movie, “Ticket to Paradise,” Julia was asked how she defined herself as a homemaker by the interviewer. “When I’m not working, that’s my full-time job,” stated the mother of three. Though it’s not all sunshine and kittens, I am really delighted about it.
She also discussed her unique bond with Henry, whom she refers to as her breakfast partner as they both benefit much from that most important meal of the day. I love breakfast, thus it’s my favorite meal. My morning buddy is my younger son Henry,” Julia remarked.The interviewer was so aware of the “Notting Hill” actress’s love of breakfast that they made a joke about how the interview would keep her from eating with Henry Moder. Yes, in fact! We love eating breakfast! With a smile, Julia Roberts concurred.
Julia loves her twins Phinnaeus and Hazel in addition to Henry. As her lone daughter joined her father, a cinematographer, at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival to promote his film “Flag Day,” Julia spoke affectionately about Hazel. The audience was captivated by the father-daughter exchange and shocked by how much Daniel looked like her.Hazel, then sixteen, wore a stylish yet laid-back outfit for the well-known event. She wore black Mary Janes with big heels and a yellow button-down dress with floral lace embroidery. Her fair hair was likewise tied back into a ponytail by her. On the other hand, her father looked dapper in a black suit.Hazel’s parents, especially her mother, expressed her happiness with her behavior, praising her for her excellent behavior. Recalling the exceptional event, Julia praised her daughter and made fun of their arguments on her appearance and her self-assured refusal to apply eyeliner, remarking, “That girl is unique.”The innocence really is so lovely.
When fans saw pictures of the young lady on her father’s arm, they complimented Hazel’s looks and labeled her pretty, but they also made note of the physical differences between Julia and Hazel. “She’s lovely but you’d never guess who her mom is…they really are not alike at all,” a supporter commented.
Another person said something like, “She doesn’t look anything like her Mum.” While some people stated that Hazel resembles her father more than Julia, others pointed out that the two are not the same. Even while many people thought Hazel and Julia didn’t look identical, many still complimented the 19-year-old on her good looks.
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