I think it was awful of his adoptive parents to deny contact. Regardless of what anyone thought before the girls were found she did not abandon her son and he should have a chance to get to know his mother and understand why she didn't fight to get him back. She did not leave him, she was taken against her will. She wasn't asking to get him back, she just wanted to see her son and get to know him.
shareBut he was taken from her in the first place, into state custody - long before the kidnapping. So there was something about her or her environment that was deemed unfit, in which to raise a child. So he might have been given up for adoption anyway (she hadn't gotten custody back - she was on her way to a MEETING with the court, social workers).
And just to play devil's advocate, the adoptive parents are supposed to act in the best interests of the child, and perhaps they thought it would be too confusing and perhaps even detrimental to the boy now (even though he's now old enough to understand what happened on a cognitive level, it could still be to much of an emotional scar now to 'impose' on him. No, it's not fair, but since when is life 'fair'? (besides, she wasn't a very responsible parent no matter who's to blame directly, as again, he was removed from her custody by age 2).
No one knows what the outcome of the hearing would've been. I would venture had Michelle been able to find work & could prove that her cousin where she was staying had a safe environment for Joey to live in. Not much was said about the guy who was sitting with the kid. He appeared not to be a boyfriend of Michelle but obviously someone that her mother knew & the mother certainly proved there was no love lost between her & Michlle who sadly had less than a proper upbringing & lived on the streets for awhile. Nobody cared- "there was no vigil or posters for me" as Michelle was quoted.
shareI think it was a good idea. She was in crises right then. Though she wanted to see her son it would've rocked his world that his birth mom had been through all that. Though, I guess he might remember her?
"... and I am unanimous in that!"- Mrs. Slocombe
I had a long conversation with my wife after this movie about that part of the story. Of course ANYBODY that has kids just sees it from Michelle's point of view. Of course you feel entitled to see your child. It's your child. You didn't abandon him/her. But looking at it from the adoptive parents point of view, you don't want your child to be introduced to such a horrific situation until you feel they're old enough to handle the story/truth. I have a ton of respect for Michelle to not pursue custody of the child. Knowing she can try to patch things up with him in 3 or so years makes it a little easier. It's obvious that she loves the child. Shielding him from the painful, horrible truth is EXACTLY what someone would do for a child that they love and want to protect. Tough thing all around.
shareThat child probably doesn't remember Michelle. She would be a stranger to him. He was about three when she disappeared. To all of a sudden, have a strange woman meet him as his mother, is too overwhelming for a kid! Especially when he hears that she has been kidnapped for 11 years!
shareExactly. It would be nothing but selfish (although instinctual) to want to come into his life at that point. That's why I think, as rough as things have been for her, she handled this like a mother that loves her child unconditionally. I just hope for her sake she can have him in her life someday. Even if it's just spending some holidays together or the occasional lunch.
I can't speak to any of her financial windfalls since the 'freeing' but she's written a book so I'm sure there's some money there. If it were my kid, I would insist on helping pay for college through a trust or something. If it's even possible to do without being considered 'intrusive.'
You are right. I think she made the right decision, as hard as it was for her. I hope some day, when he is an adult, she can reunite with him and they can establish some sort of relationship with each other.
share@ ross52066 - I totally agree with you. There are threads here questioning Michelle's mentality. She may have had more street smarts than book smarts, but for her to understand that her little boy, the reason she woke up day after day, would be better of not knowing her for now was as wise as Solomon. I'm sure that when he's older he will want to meet his mother. I'm sure it will break his heart to learn what she went through. And he will love her for it. His mom will always be his mom, his mother will always be his mother. I just pray that both his mom and mother can come to terms with it between themselves.