CHAPTER TWO
A STORY OF ADOPTION
Red threads tie to the wrists of parents
and their children. They cannot be seen
by mortals, but once they are tied they
cannot be separated. They are tied the
moment they are born and the distance
Adoption can cause so many feelings: happiness, appreciation, anger, fear. I have not yet adopted children so I cannot speak about that. However, as an adoptee, I do feel like I ended up where I was supposed to as the result of my adoption. I live in a beautiful city with a supportive
between them, the enmity between
family and a solid circle of friends. I think growing up in a faith with a higher power as well as with this cultural symbol of the
their families or their social position
does not count.
red thread has made my life more fruitful. I have lived my whole life fostering the belief that destiny has something great planned for me;
Sooner or later they are going to be united.
—EL HIJO ROJO
and even though I am not related to my family by blood, I am where I am meant to be. This made it easier for me to muddle through the harder days as I was taught that something greater was always on its way. I have a lot of trust in the divine and I am on the right track, even though my origin story involves loss. Ultimately, I am thankful to my parents for introducing these belief systems to me early in my life.
To my fellow adoptees, you do not have to believe in this kind of divinity, but I believe you are where you need to be. If you have not already, I hope you find the people your red thread is connected to: the people who make your soul thrive.
—Katie Kaessinger
At ten months old, Katie Kaessinger was adopted from China and embraced by a family in Southern California. Today, she passionately practices law, specializing in child advocacy and dependency. She supports children in foster care, adoptees, as well as foster and adoptive parents.