Family Stories About Adoption
The Hancock Family
WHEN I FIRST STARTED LOOKING FOR A CHILD, I ASKED FOR A LITTLE GIRL SO I WOULD HAVE A “DADDY'S GIRL.” I WAS SOON TOLD THAT SINCE I WAS A SINGLE MAN AND NEVER HAD KIDS THAT WOULD NOT LIKELY HAPPEN. THEN I SAID I'D TAKE A BOY FROM BIRTH TO 6YRS OLD, AND THE LADY THAT WAS GIVING ME THE MAPP CLASS TOLD ME OVER AND OVER THAT I SHOULD TAKE AN OLDER BOY - A TEENAGER - AND I TOLD HER THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE ON SOMEONE ELSE'S PROBLEM! SO AS TIME WENT ON, MY CASEWORKER ASKED ME IF I TRUSTED HER JUDGMENT (AND I SAID “YES”) SO SHE TOLD ME ABOUT THE HEART GALLERY AND ABOUT A YOUNG MAN NAMED STEVEN THAT SHE AND ANOTHER CASE WORKER AT THE CHILDREN'S HOME KNEW ABOUT. BUT HE WAS 15 YRS OLD. SHE ASKED ME TO GO TO THE HEART GALLERY AND JUST LOOK AT HIS PICTURE AND TELL THEM WHAT I THOUGHT. SO I WENT. WHEN MY SISTER-IN-LAW AND I FIRST SAW HIM WE BOTH SAID THE SAME THING – “HE LOOKS LIKE A HANCOCK. HE'S ONE OF US!” FROM THERE, THE REST IS HISTORY. NOW HE IS A HANCOCK. HE IS MINE AND I AM HIS.