*Benji's biological dad's family wants to meet with him, but Will and RJ don't know if the meeting should even happen. Send suggestions on what you wanna see! Love • Bree 🌻*
For a couple of months now, Benji has been talking to RJ and Will about possibly wanting to meet with his biological dad's family in the near future.
Benji has a very close relationship with his biological mom's side of the family since he reunited with them almost a year ago. So, Benji is really hoping to have the same thing happen with his biological dad's family.
However, Benji's biological dad's family hasn't really wanted any contact with Benji since Benji was placed into foster care and since Benji was adopted by Will and RJ.
Will and RJ have been hesitant about a possible meeting, due to Benji's biological dad being abusive to Benji and Benji's mom and Benji having PTSD about it.
Will is having a relaxing day at home with baby Harlow. Will wanted to get ahead on his work and keep Harlow home since she has been teething like crazy and is grumpy.
RJ, Benji, Coralei and Theodore are at the Splash Park for one of Coralei's friends birthday party!
Will and Harlow are cuddling on the couch together. Will is working on his laptop while Harlow is playing music on Will's iPhone.
Harlow is currently listening to the Baby Shark song, which Will doesn't like at all. But Will do anything to keep Harlow happy and contained.
"Da da da da da da da da da." Harlow says to Will, holding the iPhone up at him.
"Hi, baby girl. And what's wrong?" Will asks Harlow.
"Ba ba ba." Harlow says to Will showing him that somebody is calling.
"Oh, somebody is calling me on my phone. Can I have it?" Will says as Harlow hands Will his iPhone.
Will sees that Benji's caseworker Carrie is calling him and kinda gets a little worried about it. However, he realizes it is probably about Benji's biological dad's family.
Will sets his laptop down on the table and answers his iPhone.
Will: "Hello?"
Carrie: "Hello, Will! How are you doing today?"
Will: "Hello, Carrie! I am doing very well! Thank you for asking! How are you doing? And I am actually just relaxing at home getting ahead on my work and just hanging out with baby Harlow. Harlow has been teething, so she has been crabby lately."
Carrie: "I am glad you are doing well, Will! And I am doing great as well! I have just been busy working and helping so many kids get adopted! It has been amazing! Anyway, how are the other kids and RJ doing? Is Benji doing well?"
Will: "I have been very busy with work too! But it is finally slowly down for the summer, so I am excited to have a fun summer with the kids and Benji, Coralei, Theodore and RJ are actually at the Splash Park for a birthday party for one of Coralei's preschool friends right now. And Benji is doing incredible. He is playing soccer and hockey! He is excelling in school and he has so many friends! He has minimal PTSD flashbacks and he is just so happy right now."
Carrie: "That's wonderful! I am so glad Benji is developing right on track and is doing great! It sounds like he is a very active boy! How has Benji been with his biological mom's side of the family?"
Will: "Benji absolutely loves being with his mom's side of the family. They are all incredible people and they treat all of us so well. They even treat Coralei, Theodore and Harlow like their own. It was an amazing decision for Benji to meet with them. Benji feels so loved."
Carrie: "That's wonderful news to hear! The reason I asked how Benji is with his biological mom's family is because Benji's biological dad's family has been talking with me and they are really interested in meeting with Benji."
Will: "Actually, Benji has been talking about wanting to meet with them. He has been talking about it with RJ and I for a few months now, but he is kinda hesitant. He is really afraid that they will be mean like his dad was."
Carrie: "That's understandable! That's definitely understandable. Benji's biological dad's mom recently divorced her husband, who was Benji's dad's father. He was very very abusive and that's probably why Benji's dad was abusive too. And Benji's biological dad's mom has just been wanting to meet with Benji and see him. She misses her son and Benji is a piece of her son. Benji biological dad's sister also wants to meet with Benji as well."
Will: "Is that all of the family that wants to meet with Benji? I don't wanna overwhelm him with too many people. I wanna do this just like we did it when Benji met his mom's parents."
Carrie: "Yes, that is all of the family that wants to meet him. There are no aunts, uncles or cousins. Benji's biological dad may have a grandmother, but I'm not sure about that detail. How do you feel about this?"
Will: "I am a little leery because they never wanted contact with Benji before and now all of the sudden they do. I just don't want them meeting him with bad intentions. I don't want them around if they are negative people or abusive people. RJ and I are very protective with Benji. I don't want them lying to Benji, saying how amazing his dad was because Benji knows he wasn't an amazing dad. He was abusive. Benji's biological dad is just a PTSD trigger to Benji and I want his family to respect that and to not push it."
Carrie: "That's understandable! I told them a little bit about Benji and his PTSD. I told then that Benji is in a very happy home as well."
Will: "I also don't want any drama with Benji's mother's side with his dad's side. I know they didn't like each other for a while after Benji's parents died. I just don't want Benji to deal with unnecessary family drama. I want him to have people in his life who love him and care about him."
Carrie: "This is a very big decision. I know Benji meeting his biological mother's family was a big deal and I know Benji meeting his biological father's family will be a even bigger deal. I want this to go smoothly if it happens and I want Benji's best interests first. But whatever you decide I will completely respect and I will tell Benji's biological dad's family you and RJ's decision.
Will: "Thank you. I think Benji would want to meet with them but I have to make sure he really wants to do this. Thank you for calling me, Carrie. I appreciate all of your help even after all of these years."
Carrie: "My pleasure, that's my job! My job is to help you and RJ with Benji! Even though he is adopted, I am still here to help!"
Will: "We appreciate everything you have done for Benji. It means so much to us. But I'll definitely talk to RJ and Benji tonight and see what they think about this situation. I'll definitely text you and let you know!"
Carrie: "Aw okay! I'll talk to you later! Have a great rest of your day!"
Will: "Talk to you later! Bye."
Carrie: "Talk to you soon! Bye!"
Will hangs up his iPhone and takes a deep breath. This is a very big decision to think about, and he wants what is the best for Benji.
- A Few Hours Later -
RJ, Benji, Coralei and Theodore are now home from the Splash Park.
Benji, Coralei and Theodore are currently playing with the Nintendo Switch while Harlow is taking a nap.
*Benji, Coralei, Theodore and Harlow's outfits*
Will and RJ are cuddling on the couch together and are talking about random things.
"Hey babe?" Will says softly to RJ.
"Hmm?" RJ asks Will in a whisper.
"Carrie called me while you, bubba, Coralei and Teddy were at the Splash Park today." Will says to RJ as he holds RJ's hand.
"Did she? What did she say, babe?" RJ asks Will.
"Carrie said that Benji's biological dad's family is very interested in meeting with Benji. Just his biological dad's mother and sister. That's all the family that Benji has on that side." Will explains to RJ.
"Did you tell her Benji has been interested in meeting with them?" RJ asks Will.
"I did and I told her all of his concerns about meeting with them and she completely understands. She just wanted me to talk to you and Benji about what's best." Will says to RJ.
"Well, let's see what Benji thinks about this. He is old enough to make a decision like this, I think." RJ says to Will.
"I think he is old enough too. He knows what's going on and this should be his choice, I just want what's best for him." Will says to RJ.
"I want what's best for him too. He is our little boy and he deserves nothing but the best." RJ says making Will smile.
"Well let's see what he thinks. You ready?" Will asks RJ, squeezing his hand for support.
"I'm ready whenever you are, babe!" RJ says to Will, kissing him softly.
"Hey bubba! Come over here! Papi and I wanna talk to you." Will says as Benji walks over to him and RJ.
"Yes, Daddy and Papi?" Benji asks Will and RJ.
"So Ms. Carrie called me today." Will says to Benji.
"She did? What did she say, Daddy?" Benji asks Will in curiosity.
"Mhm! She wanted to know how you were doing and what you were up to! I told her that you were doing well in school and that you play soccer and hockey! She said that was awesome." Will says, making Benji smile ear to ear.
"That's cool!" Benji says to Will happily.
"She also asked Daddy something." RJ says to Benji.
"What did she ask, Daddy?" Benji asks Will.
"She wanted to know if you were interested in meeting with your Daddy's mom and sister. So your grandmother and your aunt." Will says to Benji.
Benji thinks about it and looks up at Will and RJ.
"Are they mean, Daddy?" Benji asks Will softly.
"She said they seemed very nice on the telephone. Ms. Carrie has been talking to them and they really want to meet with you and meet all of us. Ms. Carrie will come with them if you want her to, bubba." Will says to Benji.
"I think I can handle it, Daddy and Papi. I handled it when I met abuela and abuelo." Benji says to Will and RJ.
"Are you ready to meet them? If you are not ready, Ms. Carrie understands. She can tell them you are not ready." RJ says to Benji.
"No, Papi. I think I am ready. I'm a little scared but I'm ready." Benji says to Papi.
"Well, I am going to text Ms. Carrie and she will set up a date for all of us to meet them. Okay?" Will says to Benji.
"Okay!" Benji says as hugs Will and RJ tightly, making Will and RJ smile.
Benji will meet his paternal aunt and paternal grandmother in a few days!
Will posts a picture of himself and Benji together. Benji is drinking his Vanilla Bean Frappuccino drink while Will is drinking his tea. He writes the caption as: "Please keep Benji in your thoughts. Benji is going to meet his biological dad's family in a few days and he is really nervous about it. I just hope he goes well for him, he deserves so much happiness ❤️"
RJ posts a picture of himself and Benji together riding their bikes and wearing matching t-shirts. He writes the caption as: "One of the bravest little boys ever 💙🧒🏻"