3 year old Amato asked his adoptive mother, Maria, who is a social worker about his biological parents after Maria told him a story about how she found him and how she named him in her office after finding out that Amato has no identification and no missi

3 year old Amato asked his adoptive mother, Maria, who is a social worker about his biological parents after Maria told him a story about how she found him and how she named him in her office after finding out that Amato has no identification and no missing child description matching his appearance so Maria named him "Amato" meaning love in Italian

## Story

Amato and Maria sat on the front porch swing, gently swaying back and forth as the warm breeze rustled through the trees. It was a peaceful evening, the sun setting in a blaze of golden light on the horizon.

Amato, a curious and precocious three-year-old, had just heard a story from his adoptive mother, Maria. She was a social worker who had found him abandoned outside her office three years ago. She had no way of knowing who his biological parents were, so she had given him a name herself – Amato, meaning love in Italian.

As the sun dipped lower, Amato turned to Maria and asked, 'Mama, can I ask you something?'

'Of course, my love,' Maria replied, brushing a strand of hair out of Amato's face.

'Who are my real mama and papa?' Amato's innocent question caught Maria off guard. She took a moment to compose herself before responding.

'Well, sweetie, the truth is, I don't know who your biological parents are. When I found you, you didn't have any identification or any missing child descriptions that matched your appearance. So, I named you Amato because I knew that whoever left you must have loved you very much.'

Amato's brow furrowed in confusion. 'But why did they leave me, Mama?'

Maria sighed, her heart aching at the thought of the pain and confusion her son must be feeling. 'I don't know, my dear. Sometimes, things happen in life that we can't explain. But what matters is that you are safe and loved now.'

Amato nodded, seemingly satisfied with her answer. He cuddled into Maria's side, enjoying the warmth of her embrace.

'But Mama, can we try to find my real mama and papa?' Amato asked, looking up at her with hopeful eyes.

Maria paused, considering the question. She knew that finding Amato's biological parents would not be an easy task, but she also understood his longing to know where he came from.

'I will do everything in my power to find them, my love. I promise,' Maria said, kissing Amato's forehead.

Amato smiled, content with his mother's promise. As the sun set and the stars emerged in the darkening sky, Maria and Amato continued to swing, their hearts filled with love and hope for the future.

Years passed, and Maria never gave up on her promise to Amato. She searched tirelessly for any clue that could lead her to his biological parents. Finally, one day, her efforts paid off. She found a couple who matched Amato's features and discovered that they had given him up for adoption because they weren't able to care for him.

With Amato's permission, Maria contacted the couple and arranged a meeting. As they sat together in a small café, Amato realized that these strangers were his biological parents. They cried and embraced each other, their hearts filled with emotions that words couldn't express.

As Amato got to know his biological parents, he learned that they had named him Michael, a name they had chosen with love and hope. But as he looked into their eyes, he knew that it didn't matter what name he had or where he came from. What mattered was the love that had brought him to Maria and the love that now connected him to his biological parents.

As they left the café, Amato held both Maria's hand and his biological mother's hand, feeling thankful for the love that led him to his forever family. And as they walked down the street, Amato smiled, knowing that he was truly loved and that love knows no boundaries – whether it's biological, adoptive, or simply from the heart.