Hey Jake,
I see you’re having a rough week. The other night, I was lounging on my couch with my 7-year-old daughter snuggled up next to me. We were sipping on some warm tea while watching the incredible athletes at the Olympics—Simone Biles being one of them.
We intentionally tuned in to this event. Simone is an adoptee, just like my daughter, and she’s a strong young black girl, too. Watching Simone dominate the gymnastics floor and seeing my daughter’s eyes light up with joy was an unforgettable moment for us.
Then, you decided to speak out of turn. As the camera showed Simone’s family, you made the remark that the people she calls mom and dad are her grandparents.
Let me clarify something for you: those are her mom and dad. It’s as simple as that.
When members of the adoption community, like myself, called you out on Twitter (we like to call that a clapback), you kept digging yourself deeper until your employer finally stepped in, asking you to retract your statement and apologize.
I suspect you did what you needed to do to protect your image, but I wonder if you truly understand why many of us in the adoption community are so upset right now.
Allow me to enlighten you. I’m a mom by adoption, not just an adoptive mom. I don’t live day in and day out in a bubble labeled “adoptive parenting.” Adoption was a one-time legal action that made me my children’s mother.
I’m a mom by adoption, but not a fake mom. Everything I do for my children is genuine. I don’t clean up pretend messes or fake cuddle time. I don’t fake read them bedtime stories or pretend to be there for them when they need comfort.
I’m a mom by adoption, but not a pretend mom. I don’t fake it when I research their health, and I certainly don’t pretend to be the only one who cares for them. I encourage my kids to express their feelings about their adoptions without feeling they have to choose sides.
I’m a mom by adoption, and I’m certainly not irrelevant. Every moment I spend with my children matters. I may not always fully grasp the significance of my presence in their lives, but I know they need to hear someone cheering them on. Like all parents, I’m doing my best.
I am proud to be a mom by adoption to three amazing children who fill my life with laughter and love. The way they choose to refer to me and their birth parents is something I embrace wholeheartedly. I teach my kids that people who can’t accept adoption as a valid family structure limit their ability to live fully.
Your narrow view won’t define who we are.
The little girl next to me? She’s my real kid—no qualifiers, no explanations needed. I’m her mom, plain and simple.
So, next time you have a wide audience while narrating a significant event, please show respect for the talented young people representing our country and their true parents cheering them on.
As a fellow parent, here’s some free advice: Stay in your lane. Don’t take shots at Simone Biles and her family. And if you can’t say something nice, it’s best to keep your thoughts to yourself and your cynicism off social media.
You’re welcome.
If you’re interested in more on this topic, be sure to check out our post on natural insemination methods at this link and learn about at-home insemination kits from experts at Make A Mom. For anyone considering their fertility options, March of Dimes offers excellent resources.
Summary
In a response to sports commentator Jake Thompson’s dismissive comments about Simone Biles’ family, Emma Larson passionately defends the legitimacy of adoptive families. She emphasizes that being a mom through adoption is just as authentic as any other form of motherhood. Larson encourages respect for all parents and calls for thoughtful consideration when discussing family dynamics in the adoption community.