Kristen G Williams

“I was 39 when I felt like I was done with dating. I hadn’t found ‘the one & didn’t want to settle. I was happy being single & my job as a teacher was fulfilling. The only thing missing was motherhood! I dreamt of being a mom & just because I didn’t have a partner, I didn't want to miss out, so I decided to adopt!

Still, I asked myself –‘How will I manage as a single mom?’ But I realized that any child would be happier at home than at an orphanage. I’d made up my mind–I was going to be a mom!

But being a ‘single woman’ restricted me. So, I opted for international adoption. I applied to Nepal & even paid 28,000 dollars, but when the State suspended adoptions from Nepal, I was heartbroken.

Still, I’d pray for a miracle. One day, I got a call from an Indian agency. They said, ‘You’re clear for adoption from India, but it will have to be a child with special needs.’ I felt overwhelmed; I didn’t know if I could take care of a child with special needs. As if on cue, mom called. After checking in, she asked, ‘How is the adoption thing going?’ I took a breath & said, ‘I’m going to be a mom to a special baby!’

2 weeks later, as I was scrolling through profiles, I came across a 5-year-old Munni. She had faced abuse at the hands of previous caretakers. Her face was scarred, but her smile jolted me. I knew Munni was my daughter!

Dad wasn’t thrilled, he asked, ‘Why aren’t you adopting a white kid?’ But when I was short by a few thousand to pay the agency, he covered me with a cheque at the back of which he wrote, ‘For Munni Grae.’ Grae is our family name; I was touched.

After that, I spent months doing the paperwork. But I loved it because my sentences started with, ‘Munni, my daughter…’

Munni came home on Valentine’s Day in 2013. I remember when I hugged her…it was divine!.

As she got treated for her scars, we grew closer. We’d paint each other’s nails & walk our dog. Back then, all she’d say was, ‘Mamma-Munni’; it was everything! But I didn’t want her to be a single child. So, I geared up for my 2nd adoption. My agent called, ‘There’s a 22 months old girl. She’s healthy but doesn’t have a nose. Do you want to pursue this?’ 

That little girl, Roopa, had been left on the street & by the time she was found, dogs ate her nose. I showed Roopa’s picture to Munni, she excitedly asked, ‘Is this, my sister?’ I said ‘yes!’

A year later, Roopa was with us. But for a week, she cried all day; I wondered if I’d made a mistake. But one day, I saw her playing with a balloon; she was giggling! Munni & I joined her; that day, we felt like a family!

Then on, Roopa & Munni were inseparable. Munni made her little sister pancakes every day. Once, as they engaged in a food fight, I thought, kids belong in families & if I could get more girls’ to be addressed as ‘daughter’ instead of ‘orphan’, my life would be complete! And so, within 2 years, Mohini & Sonali joined us & made our family bigger!

By then, I’d gotten into real estate; raising 4 girls on a teacher’s salary got tough.

On weekdays, Mom Dad helped, but eventually, I opted for work from home; I didn’t want to miss their childhood! And I enjoyed every minute of it, even the singing performances & the food fights. Hell, I’d join them! My wish for a big family came true, I felt content!

But in March 2019, wherever I went, I saw kids with down syndrome. It felt as if God was trying to say something. And my hunch was right, little Snigdha was to come home.

I adopted Snigdha in Jan 2020, but we got her home 2 months ago, the pandemic delayed everything. I prayed for her for 17 months.

It’s a full house now. Snigdha is still adjusting & opening up. It’s her 6th birthday in 2 days; Munni has decided the menu, Roopa the games, Mohini her outfit & Sonali has worked on a card!

I love seeing my girls so tight! I always tell them that sisterhood is for life! You should see the way they celebrate every milestone, when Sonali lost a tooth, they hosted an ice cream party!

It’s astounding how a child can blossom with love & stability. I tell my girls that the 6 of us are like different puzzle pieces that came together to form a beautiful mosaic. I started creating this mosaic when I was 39, at 51 it’s complete. These 12 years will always be sacred because in these 12 years all 5 of my daughters found their way home.”