Monday, May 13, 2013
Sisters Reunited after 17 years
I can speak personally to the mindset of discovering family members when you least expect it. I met my older brother for the first time at the tender age of 7 and also found out about one of my first cousins that I met by chance because our boyfriends at the time were best friends.
But my story pales in comparison to these two sisters who crossed paths through their dedication to the athletic field.
Their names are Robin and Jordan Jeter. Robin, a senior at Friendship Collegiate High School and Jordan, a junior at Wilson High School reunited with one another when several members of Jordan's team made comments of another girl (Robin) looking JUST like her on the field. Then they approached one another and have been "two peas in a pod" ever since. Imagine that scene.
After watching their story, they are clearly in the "honeymoon phase" of the relationship. There is a great deal of catching up to do, but just as WUSA and many other media outlets have reported, they have many serious issues to tap into such as possible other siblings, their birth parents, and etc.
The thing that hits home for me would be the choices parents often make that haunt the children when they get older. I've seen so many instances where a decision was made to keep an estranged child away from their siblings because it was in the best interest of the couple affected by possible infidelity, lies, etc. - but the problem occurs when these children (who grow into adults) and get old enough to understand what has happened, what they have been deprived of, and then it puts the parent in a position to do damage control when they could have addressed it from the very beginning. A classic case of procrastination and then the volcano erupts one day.
Of course, it's easier said than done - who knows the reasoning behind the Jeter sisters' separation and the plight of their parents. However, in a situation where a child is involved and there are outside siblings and family members involved, it is so important to make your children AWARE of the story. God forbid your child runs into their long lost brother or cousin with no knowledge of the connection and decides to date them or become intimate.
There are too many people in the world who put their own biases, feelings and agendas before their children. They don't look into the future because they want to avoid the confrontation until they have no other choice.
"I asked her what's your mother's name on your birth certificate, what's her birthday, what does your birth certificate say at the bottom," says Robin.
Jordan was a little leery of the conversation at first.
"I was like ‘What is this, an interrogation”’ she said.
After watching their story, they are clearly in the "honeymoon phase" of the relationship. There is a great deal of catching up to do, but just as WUSA and many other media outlets have reported, they have many serious issues to tap into such as possible other siblings, their birth parents, and etc.
The thing that hits home for me would be the choices parents often make that haunt the children when they get older. I've seen so many instances where a decision was made to keep an estranged child away from their siblings because it was in the best interest of the couple affected by possible infidelity, lies, etc. - but the problem occurs when these children (who grow into adults) and get old enough to understand what has happened, what they have been deprived of, and then it puts the parent in a position to do damage control when they could have addressed it from the very beginning. A classic case of procrastination and then the volcano erupts one day.
Of course, it's easier said than done - who knows the reasoning behind the Jeter sisters' separation and the plight of their parents. However, in a situation where a child is involved and there are outside siblings and family members involved, it is so important to make your children AWARE of the story. God forbid your child runs into their long lost brother or cousin with no knowledge of the connection and decides to date them or become intimate.
There are too many people in the world who put their own biases, feelings and agendas before their children. They don't look into the future because they want to avoid the confrontation until they have no other choice.
God (however) controls all (my personal belief) and clearly they were meant to be there for one another. Way to go for the reunited young ladies. Good luck to your new-found sisterhood and friendship!
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