The blog of Christopher Gullmans
Of course, not the people, but their hurtful words. As someone whose life didn't start out like that of the vast majority of people around me, it's not hard to see why people like me, i.e. adoptees, might want to shy away from being themselves. It's easy for many to say "of course you should... Continue Reading →
As I'm typing this on my phone in Amadeus' hospital room, my son is resting in his hospital bed, hooked up to a device that monitors his vital signs, while a soft "hisssss" can be heard from his oxygen mask. Meanwhile, my phone is buzzing left and right with congratulations on having been awarded 2023... Continue Reading →
I'll be honest: When we first found out (prenatally) that our boy had Down syndrome, it was devastating. I had to fight my inner demons saying things like "what will the world think about him and us?", "What if I don't love him?" and "Will I be happy?". I think it's safe to say that... Continue Reading →
I can't believe I'm saying this, but having and raising a baby has been one of the easier parts of our three years of marriage. Today is our 3-year (leather) wedding anniversary (we got married on Feb 29, 2020), and it is quite remarkable how--in these three years--there have been so many life-changing events that... Continue Reading →
I know how this sounds, but bear with me. As I look back at my life, I see a pathological people-pleaser, literally unable to put his own needs first before helping others. While I theoretically knew I had a problem with this, somehow I also imagined myself being an endless source of helping hands. But... Continue Reading →
I find myself sitting here, half-way through my vacation, staring out the window. Outside, the rain pours down, and I think to myself, "some vacation this is." And then I stop myself and remember why the grass is green, why the birds fly, and why I was able to have a proper meal on my... Continue Reading →
No matter the culture, no matter the language, no matter the child–one universal fact transcends every border and every notion man could ever invent: a child is born to love. There are many things a child can do without, but a sense of belonging isn’t one of them. But I am about to have a... Continue Reading →
It's a subject most expectant mothers and fathers know about, but few seem to acknowledge or talk about (especially the latter). Pregnancy loss can have such a huge impact on your life, and although miscarriages are common (particularly during your first pregnancy), it feels like me and my wife are the only ones out there... Continue Reading →
There are countless letters on countless pages in countless books in countless libraries. They all have something in common: none of them contain our story. Not a single sheet of paper in any of those books contain the emotions, passions, happiness, or sorrows of ours, nor the paths that we have taken. This, our paper... Continue Reading →
I always tell people that life is fair. The irony here is that I never quite believed it myself. I'd watch (and even help) people reach new heights, and yet, I'd feel like I was falling further and further behind. Echoes of my past told me I wasn't worth the same, and that some people... Continue Reading →
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