They saw her for the first time in a photo. Aneliya immediately exclaimed: "Oh, look at these big black eyes!” then looked at her husband and smiled. She said, as if to herself: “She’s got our older son’s eyes...” 

The social workers were telling Aneliya various things about the child – age, health status, relationship with her biological family, the length of stay at the Home for Infants, development process. Aneliya, however, seemed as if she could not hear these explanations. She simply stared at the space ahead and smiled.

After the meeting, she explained that she had been transported back in time. She recalled the first time she met her adopted son. “He had the same big black eyes! He still has the same eyes now, even though is already 25 years old.”

The family did not need long to decide whether to welcome the child into their home. They were not worried by her diagnosed epilepsy, neither were they scared of the labels "wayward, spoilt, capricious". They said, "in that case, she needs us more than a healthy child."

Their first encounter was emotional for everyone involved – the social workers, the doctors, the child specialist, the child, and the family. Each came with their expectations, concerns, hopes and fears.

At first, Zejneb glanced around at each person, her gaze stopped at Aneliya and Svetoslav, and then she smiled and greeted: “Good afternoon!”. She was nestled on the child specialist’s lap. Aneliya reached out to her and asked kindly: "Would you like to sit on my lap?” After the child said yes and reached out to her, the mother asked: "Can I hug you?"

This is how it all began – with a spontaneous and emotional hug! At the next meeting, several employees from the children’s home rushed to share that Zejneb was telling the other children gleefully that “her aunt and uncle“ came to see her. Aneliya smiled softly and did not reply. She must have understood how long she and her husband had been awaited and how much Zejneb must have longed for this meeting.  Nevertheless, when the child entered the room, and they said hello, Aneliya asked: "Can I give you a kiss?"

This woman - unaffected, intuitive, delicate - was showing respect for the wishes of Zejneb. Even after she had carried Zejneb for 15 minutes, her arms got tired and she wanted to sit down again, Aneliya asked: "Do you want to sit down and cuddle together?" The child answered with a smile: “No!” Followed by: "Is that right? So you would rather walk around the room together, hug and sway. Alright then!” And so they walked, they talked about different objects in the room, cradling back and forth, cuddling, until Zejneb got bored and wanted to come down.

Aneliya had understood the child’s needs, her need for affection, warmth, attention and physical intimacy, and she was ready to give it all at once, as much as needed. She was trying to get to know Zejneb, and when she was not sure what Zejneb wanted, she did not hesitate to ask. She was not bothered by the so-called “whims” of a child.  She was there for Zejneb, to give her her all.   

Source: Foundation "For Our Children"