As a child I developed a love of animals that continues to this day. If I had a bad day at school or was just struggling with things, I could be found with my cats, dogs, horse, pet cow, or any other stray animal that I adopted. They are truly what I connected with. With them I did not feel different. When a lot of people know you are adopted and talk about it you can find yourself feeling that way. This is a love that I share with my dad (adoptive).

My parents instilled in me at a young age that I could do anything that I wanted to, and to believe in myself. My parents let me (around the age of 10) keep a cow from going to slaughter, and she became my huge pet cow that I led around as a pet. She was all mine, and I had saved her life, so I felt we had a connection. She got down while having a calf and had to be cut wide open. Our vet did not believe she would make it since she was unable get up. He wanted to put her down and my parents said she was mine, and it was up to me. I refused I could not give up on her. Our vet said to call when we needed him to take care of her. I was incredibly mad that everyone did not believe in her.

My dad decided to support my beliefs, or maybe he did not want to break my heart. I do not know. My mom was like, “whatever”, but did not understand why I could not give up on her. She was down for two weeks. During this time, I would get her to drink out of my mom’s big bowl and hand feed her. Her legs start to draw up because she had been down so long and when she would try to stand she couldn’t. So, I decided to raid my parents’ medicine cabinet, and took all the ace bandages. I would rub her leg, bending them as well as I could, and then would wrap them in ace bandages.

Our vet thought it was very comic to see a cow in ace bandages. After a lot of love and believing in me and her, she was up walking around. She was a little stiff and slow, but doing it. Our vet could not believe it when he a saw her up walking around. My dad still likes to share this story because with this I found my inner self and determination with my pet cow. I learned that my parents would be there no matter what, even if others thought I was crazy.

In life there are a lot of things that are hard and seem impossible. I learned that it is worth the fight. This one cow taught me so much about life, and how to fight for what you believe. My parents (adoptive) instilled in me to dream dreams, not to give up, believe in myself and if I wanted something bad enough go for it. Still, this is what being a parent is all about.

More reading:

A Great Adoptive Father

Can You Really Love an Adopted Child as Your Own? Part 1

Can You Really Love an Adopted Child as Your Own? Part 2