I was once superficially involved in a contested adoption. I did not know the young birth father who was contesting the adoption placement of the newborn of a young woman with whom he was briefly intimate. Just prior to trial, this young man had a change of heart and decided to sign a consent for adoption. As I witnessed his signing of the consent, I noticed many things about him, including his shoes! They were obviously brand spanking new shiny dress shoes that contrasted sharply with his more modest and well worn clothing. His shoes seemed mightily uncomfortable. I guessed he bought them especially for this occasion so as to appear grown up and presentable.
After the adoption papers were all signed and the meeting ended, everyone left. As I drove back to my law office a half hour later, I noticed this young man walking, in the broiling heat of our Florida summer sun, down a busy thoroughfare. He was walking back to his job at a restaurant which I knew was several miles away. He had already been walking 30 minutes — in those shoes. He had an hour or two more to walk to reach his job.
I stopped for two reasons. I could not bear the thought of him walking so far in such physical pain, particularly after he had just signed documents to release his first born child for adoption. And now that the adoption case was resolved, I wanted to ask him why he had suddenly, voluntarily decided in favor of placing his daughter for adoption, after contesting it for months.
He was very glad for the ride. His answer to my question was simply: “I realized adoption was what was best for her.”
