ꜰᴀɴᴛᴀꜱɪᴀ ʙᴀʀʀɪɴᴏ
ᴊᴜne 31, 2020
ᴀᴅᴏᴘᴛɪᴏɴ ʜᴇᴀʀɪɴɢ.
"why do you want to adopt this child?"
"well, because i love her more than life, and i want her to be a part of my life forever. she's changed me in ways she doesn't know about in just four months. she's my happy place. so yeah, that's why."
"how do you plan to handle instruction/discipline?"
"im very gentle and patient, so for me, i would rather talk first and let her know like this is something you can't do. like last night she went into the pantry and dropped the cooking flour all over the floor and instead of yelling why she did it i stooped down to her level and i was basically telling her like you know if you have a hard time reaching something let me or her mother know and we'll help her get it. she said okay and walked away with a huge smile on her face. kids can't handle aggression, and i wouldn't dare take that route with her ever."
"how long have this child lived with you?"
"three months going on four."
"have you discussed this adoption with the child's other parent?"
"well yes she's actually the one who gave me the papers to sign." i looked over at a smiling taraji.
"okay, and are you prepared to raise and educate the child as your own?"
"more than, and with her only being four, i have more than enough time to educate her on new things before she reaches that age where she'll know because of what she learned when she was younger. me raising her will never be a problem. before this, i had it on lock, so yeah, im prepared."
"do you have any concerns about your ability to provide a safe and stable home for the child?"
"no concerns at all. her mother and i are already providing her with a stable and supportive home environment, so that won't be a problem."
"alright, and do you understand the legal implications of adopting this child?"
"yes, and im ready to become her parent and also take care of the responsibilities that come along with."
"okay, ms.barrino, you may take your seat." my heart was racing as i walked back to my chair. taraji and laila sat in the juror seats.
"mommy, there's tai tai!" laila yelled. taraji laughed, trying to shush her.
"yes, that's tai tai baby."
"hey, mama." i smiled, waving at her.
"hey mama" she mocked me. i felt myself getting ready to cry. i know she was only repeating what she heard me say, but it was beautiful to hear. the juror in which it was my family were in awe just as i and raji were.
"i love you, baby." i slightly shouted, letting my tears run freely down my face.
"i love you too."
"she's my life." i whispered to myself.
"Fantasia Barrino, you are now the legal guardian of the adoptee, Laila Amelia Henson-Barrino." i jumped up out of my chair and ran to taraji, jumping on her. she spun me around.
"you hyphenated our names?"
"i did" she said with the biggest smile there is. i fell back into her, hugging her tightly.
"thank you, baby. so much."
"you're welcome, always." i pulled back and kissed her over and over. she placed me on my feet, and i went over to laila, picking her up.
"dont cry tai tai."
"im sorry. i just love you so much. do you know that?"
"yes"
"can i have hugs?"
"yes!" she squeezed me.
"ms.barrino, we'd like for you to sign one more thing."
"sure, what is it?"
"laila's birth certificate."
"wh- wait, really? babe, is this real?" my voice cracked as i asked taraji. it was so many blessings on top of blessings.
"take a look at it, beauty. real as it gets"
"also, this one includes her new name, so she's gonna be henson-barrino from here on out, and this will be the final decree of adoption."
"wow." i cried. my hand shook as i took the pen.
"and that is final. i wish you guys nothing but the best for your family. court is adjourned."
everyone crowded me, hugging me and congratulating me.
"yous a mama now, tai." tab said damn near crying herself.
"yeah, i am. im so so so thankful for you, princess." i was now talking to laila, "are you thankful for me?"
"yes!"
"do you know what thankful means?"
"no!" everyone started laughing.
"it's okay, we'll teach you."
☆☆☆..
"so, laila, do you know why tai tai and i were in court today?"
"no"
"well, tai tai had to sign a few papers and answer some questions, and now she's your mama."
"but, you're mommy."
"and im mama."
"i have two mommies?"
"yeah, baby. mommy and mama, and i know that its gonna take time for you to start addressing me as such, which is ok, im just grateful to have that title and to have you." i kissed her forehead and hugged her, "i love you"
"i love you too."
"what about me?" taraji pouted.
"and you too, of course, baby." i leaned over to give her love as well. she made this possible.
"so, i figured we should cheer to motherhood."
"im a mom now. i dont want wine until she falls asleep."
"rip my woman out of the plastic she is acting brand new."
"yes, im acting brand new. i may just pull up on you"
"pop up in that new new."
"riding with my lil boo."
"AHH- wait, that lil boo better be me."
"yes, of course it's you."
"release the album. new freestyle by tasia and raji."
"whats the name of the freestyle gonna be?"
"tarasia freestyle."
"tarasia? what even is that?"
"taraji and fantasia"
"thats cute, okay. tarasia freestyle. we should drop that on the fourth of july."
"independence day. hmm, sounds good."
"you're silly- i keep repeating myself, but i truly am grateful for you guys. life just keeps getting better and better. i dont think i've ever been this happy before. birthdays and holidays were the days i spent being depressed and lonely. losing weight, starving myself, and just not being able to get up, but now i have a reason to. thanks to you and thanks to our princess."
"no, thanks to you. thank you for letting me break that wall down after so many years of building it up by dealing with disappointment after disappointment. everything you just said is now the opposite, and i plan to keep it that way. beautiful, fine, healthy, and your smile is to die for. i never want you to lose any of that, so therefore, i will do everything in my power to make sure i see those pearlies every single day. im responsible for this smile, and i won't allow a single soul to turn it into a frown ever again. so, from here on out, you, me, and our daughter will remain one and remain happy until the end."
"do you want me to cry my eyelashes off?"
"no, well yes, but it won't be from tears of joy."
"oh? then we should go now."
"you cant. youre a mom now. gotta make sure she's asleep first." she mocked me.
"oh wow, it's like that?"
"you said it, not me."
"whatever taraji- hey, come on baby let's get you to bed."
"will you read my bedtime story?"
"of course, whatever book you want, just choose."
"okay, and mommy too."
"coming right n- shit!" she tripped and hit her knee on the staircase.
"bad word"
"ah- sorry, but that really hurt."
"are you o- are you okay?" i couldnt stop myself from laughing.
"you're not concerned."
"i am- okay, im done. seriously, are you okay?"
"yes, my knee is throbbing, though, and i see you about to laugh."
"im not, i pro- i promise."
"yeah, whatever, go ahead laugh, hehehaha."