Alycea Snyder writes to my daughter, she wanted her to have the whole story. Where she came from. Why Alycea placed her for adoption. And how, for the next eighteen years, she hovered on the edges of her family, granted access by her generous parents, but always wanting more. More for her daughter, and more for her.
Alycea writes:
“I am not ready, not able, to raise you.
Ten years too early, I need time to grow up.
To offer you, I have love.
And nothing else.
You need more than I have to give,
Unless I give you up.
To parents who are ready, waiting, to raise you.
Ten years wanting, with a ready home.
Parents who have love,
And everything else, too.
If I do it,
If I break my own heart to spare yours,
Will it work?
Will you be happier, healthier this way?
And will I ever be okay again?
In this episode, Valeria Teles interviews Alycea Snyder who tells the story of a kinship adoption from the perspective of a birthmother. She reveals her thoughts on adoption, shows openness as she redefines the word family.
Alycea Snyder writes personal narratives that tackle major life transitions. With unconventional lyricism, she lays out the heart of a story in bare-bones language.
A. K. Snyder (pen name) is an experienced speaker and adult educator. Her conference presentations revolve around technology, project management, and the writer’s process. She is a member of the Florida Writers Association, and she serves on the board of Tampa Writers Alliance.
She started Your Next Inspiring Story, an online community where members share their recommendations for stories that change your perspective and leave you inspired.
Rural Minnesota features prominently in her writing, where A. K. spent her first thirty years.
To learn more about Alycea Snyder, please visit her website
