We Found Our Son in the Subway
February 28, 2013 1:12 PM   Subscribe

 
Nice story.
posted by KokuRyu at 1:16 PM on February 28, 2013 [1 favorite]


awwwwwWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!

MAN.

Yes.

I am really glad to know that this was a thing that happened.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 1:19 PM on February 28, 2013 [31 favorites]


Very nice story. I wonder if the birth mother is alive and knows what became of the child?
posted by yoink at 1:19 PM on February 28, 2013 [1 favorite]


Oh, and go that judge!
posted by yoink at 1:20 PM on February 28, 2013 [7 favorites]


Sorry. It's a little dusty in here. *sniff*
posted by zizzle at 1:20 PM on February 28, 2013 [3 favorites]


I loved this story. Thanks!
posted by scody at 1:21 PM on February 28, 2013


This nearly made me cry. I'm at work!

I'll blame it on allergies . . .

I also wonder what the story was with his birth? How can you not wonder? But that is a blessed kid there.
posted by MoxieProxy at 1:22 PM on February 28, 2013 [1 favorite]


What a fantastic story. Crying at my desk, hoping nobody comes by...
posted by gemmy at 1:22 PM on February 28, 2013 [1 favorite]


Oh my God...misty...
posted by limeonaire at 1:24 PM on February 28, 2013 [1 favorite]


Seriously I have GOT to stop reading these things in the office. People will stare.
posted by Doleful Creature at 1:24 PM on February 28, 2013 [4 favorites]


Yeah, teared up a little here. Love is awesome.
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:25 PM on February 28, 2013 [1 favorite]


Just more proof of the axiom that families come in all shapes and sizes from all kinds of circumstances.
posted by easily confused at 1:28 PM on February 28, 2013 [6 favorites]


Love the story. Being adopted myself I can entirely relate. It's not who or where you come from but rather who you love and who loves you back that matters.

Wondering about who your birth parents were is bittersweet. On one hand, it would be interesting to know and I went through a period of my life where I was very interested in learning more (I know almost nothing). On the other hand, it's quite liberating to have no history and no ties in that regard. You have no limitations placed upon yourself. You have infinite ability and potential, and the things that are unique about you stand out brightly.

I though that once the internet and social media took hold that I'd eventually meet relatives, but that hasn't happened. I don't really care to make my life more complicated by meeting them now, in any case. I'm fine with my own family.
posted by jimmythefish at 1:29 PM on February 28, 2013 [5 favorites]


I love that judge. I love those parents. I love that kid. I love all these people. I hope no one comes by my desk till the tears dry.
posted by sweetkid at 1:31 PM on February 28, 2013 [12 favorites]


Lucky kid, and lucky parents.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:31 PM on February 28, 2013


I so love that they got the same judge to marry them. Perfect circle.
posted by dlugoczaj at 1:32 PM on February 28, 2013 [2 favorites]


Wow.

A friend of mine from Antigua told me a friend of hers found a baby in an alley and just decided to keep him. She also told me owning a donkey is like a sign you made it and the island is overrun by box turtles, like hundreds everywhere, so I doubt some of her stories.
posted by Ad hominem at 1:32 PM on February 28, 2013 [3 favorites]


....and that child's name was Carrot Ironfundersson
posted by The Whelk at 1:33 PM on February 28, 2013 [31 favorites]


Oh my god, there seems to be a dust storm in this kitchen...

When I read the first part, I was already emotional, and realized that, knowing the system, I'd just have taken the baby and kept it. That time in a home, even while the nurses do their very best and are wonderful is so damaging. But I'm a woman. I could easily have explained the new baby. I have friends who did. Friends who were that baby.

Then I got to the essence of the story, and was reminded of way back. I grew up in a very liberal community, and then eventually I became a teacher. One day while still young, I asked a former student if he was planning to get a family, because I knew he was the type who really wanted one. He looked at me as if I was crazy, and asked if I had understood he is gay.
For me, that was a wake-up call. Several of my friends had gay parents. My parents had gay friends, including my mother's very best friend. I had no idea it could be difficult. The anguish and anger my student expressed was a shock to me. Good thing that this is all ending now
posted by mumimor at 1:34 PM on February 28, 2013 [3 favorites]


The least the MTA could do is hook the kid up with a lifetime metro card.
posted by dr_dank at 1:38 PM on February 28, 2013 [42 favorites]


I think there is something on fire in this thread. Awfully smoky in here.
posted by carsonb at 1:40 PM on February 28, 2013 [1 favorite]


The least the MTA could do is hook the kid up with a lifetime metro card

Citizen of the Subway.
posted by yoink at 1:40 PM on February 28, 2013 [6 favorites]


Lovely story.
posted by MartinWisse at 1:41 PM on February 28, 2013


But there we were, thanks to a fateful discovery and a judicious hunch.

......argh.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 1:41 PM on February 28, 2013 [11 favorites]


Which is like being King of the Road only it doesn't scan so well.

(Oh goodness this is awesome.)
posted by Now there are two. There are two _______. at 1:41 PM on February 28, 2013 [1 favorite]


“Well, it can be,” assured the judge before barking off orders to commence with making him and, by extension, me, parents-to-be.

My first reaction, when I heard, went something like: “Are you insane? How could you say yes without consulting me?” Let’s just say, I nailed the “jerk” part of knee-jerk.


Don't try this at home, kids. I'm glad it all turned out so well but the author's reaction is completely understandable.
posted by Currer Belfry at 1:41 PM on February 28, 2013 [23 favorites]


Yes. That's ... quite a decision to make without consulting one's partner.

On the other hand, AWWW, how sweet! That's a lovely happy ending right there.
posted by rmd1023 at 1:50 PM on February 28, 2013 [1 favorite]


Think of it this way, sometimes an excellent idea for a play just lands in your lap.
posted by The Whelk at 1:51 PM on February 28, 2013


This story is ten days late.
posted by NedKoppel at 1:55 PM on February 28, 2013


Think of it this way, sometimes an excellent idea for a play just lands in your lap.

And then spits up a little.
posted by maryr at 1:57 PM on February 28, 2013 [3 favorites]


Well that made me cry.
posted by InkaLomax at 1:57 PM on February 28, 2013


Yes. That's ... quite a decision to make without consulting one's partner.

One of the advantages of having a husband I suppose. (ducks)
posted by KokuRyu at 1:57 PM on February 28, 2013


He definitely should've consulted his partner, i agree, but think of it like this: a lot of straight couples have unplanned kids.

(I know it's not the same thing, but just think of fate intervening and this is the best she could do.)
posted by MoxieProxy at 2:00 PM on February 28, 2013 [4 favorites]


It's wonderful stories like these that help that little last part of my heart from going completely cynical. I want to hug puppies now.
posted by Leezie at 2:00 PM on February 28, 2013 [3 favorites]


My faith in humanity was due for a tune-up. Thanks!
posted by ambrosia at 2:04 PM on February 28, 2013 [2 favorites]


Citizen of the Subway.

Security Question: Name of the Hospital You were Born In: A/C/E.
Mother's Maiden Name: MTA
posted by Tomorrowful at 2:06 PM on February 28, 2013 [12 favorites]


I have ... issues ... with the way that all went down.

But screw those issues, that's a beautiful story.
posted by jacquilynne at 2:11 PM on February 28, 2013 [1 favorite]


If you are worried about what people will think if they see you crying at work just keep a bag of chips and a bottle of hot sauce on your desk. When you feel the tears coming start loudly eating the chips and saying 'Damn isn't this sauce hot. And manly."
posted by Doroteo Arango II at 2:17 PM on February 28, 2013 [12 favorites]


I would love it if this kid loved marmalade sandwiches.
posted by sonascope at 2:18 PM on February 28, 2013 [10 favorites]


Perhaps he should have discussed it with his partner first, but all the Judge asked was "Are you interested?". Saying "Yes" committed him to nothing. Adopting a child is not something that happens on a whim. There was a lot of paperwork and checks before they got to that first legal step of filing the request -- plenty of time to discuss it and say, "I'm sorry, but it's just not going to work". And notice, by that point, both fathers were totally committed to the adoption.
posted by pbrim at 2:18 PM on February 28, 2013 [14 favorites]


I dunno, I don't have a lot of problem with this
“Would you be interested in adopting this baby?” The question stunned everyone in the courtroom, everyone except for Danny, who answered, simply, “Yes.”
I don't think Danny needs anyone else's validation or approval before expressing an interest in adopting a kid. Not even a spouse's. It's not like by saying yes, they walked away with Kevin that very day, for ever and ever, amen. There are ample opportunities for a foster-to-adopt situation to change. He merely answered the question honestly.
posted by muddgirl at 2:19 PM on February 28, 2013 [10 favorites]


I really hope they'll be able to get the kid's medical history...
posted by Melismata at 2:20 PM on February 28, 2013


Having now read the article... Man, is this sauce hot or what.
posted by Doroteo Arango II at 2:21 PM on February 28, 2013 [9 favorites]


The oak trees really need to stop putting all of their pollen on my computer like this.

*snif*
posted by cmyk at 2:26 PM on February 28, 2013


Sometimes, because people are people, bad things happen. Infants are left in the subway.

Sometimes, because people are people, good things happen. Judges are wise, men open their hearts.

Sometimes the system works.
posted by BlueHorse at 2:37 PM on February 28, 2013 [4 favorites]


I am not ashamed to tear up at my desk.

I LOVE HAPPY BABY STORIES!

I blame my own little baby-person for me changing from badass with a heart of stone to simpering fool who cries when any news article or story includes the questionable well-being of an infant or small child.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:41 PM on February 28, 2013 [11 favorites]


If it were fiction I would hate it, but instead I'm happily crying away here at the dining-room table.
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:55 PM on February 28, 2013 [1 favorite]


During that time we often wondered about the judge.

I believe the answer here is, quite simply, the judge knew the foster care hell that baby was about to be lost to.

When my parents flew to Virginia a couple decades ago to try to help my brother hang onto his kids (the mother was a notorious partying fiend, and there were shall we say care issues), the red carpet that the judge, court officials, and social workers laid down for them was Oscar-worthy. In the course of about 48 hours they showed up in court and were granted custody.
posted by dhartung at 3:29 PM on February 28, 2013 [6 favorites]


and the island is overrun by box turtles, like hundreds everywhere

More like sea turtles, but it's in the tourist literature...
posted by dhartung at 3:31 PM on February 28, 2013


I was good until the last paragraph. Time to snorgle the dog.
posted by annsunny at 3:40 PM on February 28, 2013


I blame my own little baby-person for me changing from badass with a heart of stone to simpering fool who cries when any news article or story includes the questionable well-being of an infant or small child.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:41 AM on February 28 [2 favorites +] [!]


Oh good fucking christ on a gooey caramel chocolate cracker this.

I dunno what brain chemicals you get squirted with when you see your own baby but that shit is with you for a lifetime.
posted by Sebmojo at 3:57 PM on February 28, 2013 [6 favorites]


WHY didn't they name him Ace, for god's sake?
posted by showbiz_liz at 4:07 PM on February 28, 2013 [3 favorites]


Lady Bracknell: And where did this Mr. James... or, Thomas Cardew come across this ordinary handbag?
Jack: The cloak room at Victoria Station. It was given to him in mistake for his own...
Lady Bracknell: [Shocked] The cloak room at Victoria Station?
Jack: Yes. The Brighton line.
Lady Bracknell: The line is immaterial.
[begins tearing up notes]
Lady Bracknell: Mr. Worthing. I must confess that I feel somewhat bewildered by what you have just told me. To be born, or at any rate bred in a handbag, whether it have handles or not, seems to me to display a contempt for the ordinary decencies of family life which reminds one of the worst excesses of the French revolution, and I presume you know what that unfortunate movement led to?
posted by The Hyacinth Girl at 4:10 PM on February 28, 2013 [6 favorites]


"No longer bursting into tears in random cafés" is just going to have to be one of those promises to myself that I end up breaking, I guess.
posted by Chutzler at 4:17 PM on February 28, 2013 [2 favorites]


Well maybe not exploding into sobs, but I'm wet of face and noodley of resolve.
posted by Chutzler at 4:20 PM on February 28, 2013 [3 favorites]


WHY didn't they name him Ace, for god's sake?

Some friends of the family had a kid. Jackson. Family name was Angel, so Jackson Angel.

Badass? Maybe, but badass enough? They thought not.

So, his middle name is Danger.

Jackson Danger Angel.
posted by Sebmojo at 4:23 PM on February 28, 2013 [6 favorites]


System Works, Nation Astounded
posted by BitterOldPunk at 5:14 PM on February 28, 2013 [3 favorites]


My first thought was, "The kid was abandoned. They could have just claimed that he was their own and put in a late registration of a home bir... oh."
posted by Joe in Australia at 5:27 PM on February 28, 2013 [2 favorites]


A handbag?

This is delightful.
posted by hot soup girl at 6:35 PM on February 28, 2013 [1 favorite]


Crying like a kid down here, you couldn't dream this up and believe it, life can be so beautiful ...
posted by dancestoblue at 7:28 PM on February 28, 2013


this
posted by Golden Eternity at 8:01 PM on February 28, 2013


I'm glad they got the kid! Much better to be raised by people who can raise him, and I hope the mother got help at some point. I can't imagine the situation which would lead up to abandoning a newborn in a subway station.
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 8:30 PM on February 28, 2013 [1 favorite]


Why did I read this? I can't eat breakfast when I'm crying so much.
posted by Silly Ashles at 6:16 AM on March 1, 2013


Best of the tear-jerking web.
posted by Theta States at 7:17 AM on March 1, 2013


dhartung: "During that time we often wondered about the judge.

I believe the answer here is, quite simply, the judge knew the foster care hell that baby was about to be lost to.
"

That was what I thought, too. A person who clearly cared about the child was involved in his life, and nurturing even that tenuous relationship had better odds of success than dropping a baby cold into the foster system. (Given the usual background checks, of course.)
posted by Karmakaze at 7:58 AM on March 1, 2013


I would love it if this kid loved marmalade sandwiches.

I'd really like to think that I'd seem like the type of person to whom a judge would also suggest I adopt a kid if I found one in the subway (though to be perfectly honest, this would more likely happen to my partner where I was the one sputtering in the back)

But if the judge didn't play that hunch, it would probably be because I would probably seem like I'd do my best to ENSURE the kid grew up loving marmalade sandwiches. And I'm not sure people with that level of supposed whimsy should be having kids.

(I would have certainly named him Ace.)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:33 AM on March 1, 2013 [2 favorites]


Ace would have been a super cute name, I agree, but I'm not sure giving a kid a name that will remind him he was abandoned each time he spells it out is the best idea.
posted by maryr at 11:14 AM on March 1, 2013 [1 favorite]


In reality, I totally agree. In my fantasy life, I imagine that I would give him the kind of home where he would be able to own his past in such a way that the moniker would be empowering.

(My fantasy life is where I'd be a great parent AND be able to tell all the the cute stories about it without fear of long term damage. Reality, being what it is, leaves me childless and totally appreciative of those who can pull it off.)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 12:22 PM on March 1, 2013 [1 favorite]


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