A memory in a box. When his sister joined the family, I continued this with her. This simple gift has now expanded into a tradition I cherish. For the past few years we now get together before Christmas and decorate the tree together. Between Matthew and his sister, we have a lot of stories to tell, and memories that we share, brought to life by a simple Christmas ornament.
Adoptive parents are also in a bind.
The fact that many adoptive couples are more finacially well off than the birthparents creates a double bind. On one hand they can afford expensive gifts, on the other hand they worry about creating a feeling of obligation in the birthparents to reciprocate. Limits allow us the freedom from this kind of worry. There are many birthparents who have started similar collections like the ornament idea. Many adoptive parents have learned that gifts the kids make are more than welcomed by birthparents, in fact they are some of our most precious possessions.