Tell a tale

Sangeeta Pawar,the adoption coordinator at SOFOSH,says “.We show them stories recorded by parents who adopted in the past,explaining how they made the child understand and made him feel special. Another technique we use is that of telling the child stories of mythological characters who were adopted,like Krishna and Sita. Such stories capture the child’s imagination,and they begin to accept the concept of adoption. Stories are a very useful tool in this scenario,as they appeal to the children much more than a simple explanation.”

Rakesh and Sunita Gadekar who related to the stories say the stories gave them the strength to break the news to their 13 year old daughter Shyama.”13 was an age when we thought it was the right time. Also we did not want some one else to tell this to her. So we broke the news and gave her the stories to read and she realsied that she was special and imporatan to us,”says Sunita.

Pawar is of the opinion that the exact time to tell the child differs between families,and parents should wait until the child can understand and accept the news before they tell him.

“During the child’s upbringing,many parents keep bringing them back to SOFOSH for a visit. This also helps significantly,making the child realise a connection to the place where it all started. Many parents also celebrate two birthdays for the child: one on the day he was actually born,and one on the day they adopted him. All these methods help prepare the child for the day they reveal the news of his adoption,” she elaborates.

Prakash Nigade and his wife Shraddha adopted young Sanat in 1997 when he was a mere five months old. They slowly but steadily developed the idea and understanding in him that every child is special regardless of who raises him,and believe that it doesn’t matter who raises a child as long as the child is loved.

“After we read the stories we could help Sanat understand things better.,We broke the news to Sanat when he was five.At the time,he was old enough to understand the significance,but not so old that it would make him feel inadequate. He took the news quite well,and there were no tense situations or stressful instances that are sometimes seen in such situations.But then one day he saw a story in the newspaper about an adopted Indian child from New Zealand who had come back to India to find his birth mother. and in all his innocence,asked his adoptive me,When I grow older,will you also take me to meet my real mother. After that we gave him the stories to read. The stories were our emotions only and gradually he realised we love him even more than his real parents” says Prakash”

Sanat is now 13 years old and studies in standard VIII at Nutan Marathi Vidyalaya.

Stories from Indian mythology may help children come to terms with their adoptive status sans emotional turmoil

Curated For You

India vs Bangladesh LIVE Score, U-19 World Cup 2026: Wet outfield stops play in Bulawayo; BAN U19: 90/2 (Target: 239)

CAQM cites Beijing example, says Delhi Metro may need to double operational network to curb vehicular pollution

Javed Akhtar says ‘no communal element’ in AR Rahman not getting work in Bollywood; Shaan says ‘3 superstars also belong to minority communities’