Showing my face for a visit, greeting the taciturn father-in-law, he even returned a smile | Special Adoption | Home Visit Investigation ③
When the child consultation center staff arrived, we invited them in, and while talking about various things, we moved to the living and dining room. Since the floor plan allowed a view of the kitchen and washroom from there, they said, 'So that is the washroom,' and in that flow, they thoroughly checked the kitchen and bathroom as well. After I guided them through the entire first floor, we returned to the dining room.
(↓Please also read about our previous experience here)
They wanted to reconfirm things we had already provided in documents, such as our occupations and family structure, so we had the staff sit down and began answering the expected questions.
As we talked about various things, they asked, 'By the way, your wife is from Tochigi, right? Since you are both from different places, how did you meet?' Internally, I thought, 'It's here! This question!' and my husband made eye contact to see who would speak first.
Thinking my husband wanted me to talk, I said, 'Oh! I forgot to serve tea!' and scurried off to the kitchen, deciding to let him start.
I wondered where he would start as I made tea in the back of the kitchen.
I listened to my husband talk calmly, thinking once again that if it weren't for the special adoption process to welcome a child, we probably wouldn't be talking about how we met in our 15th year of marriage.
He spoke in such a detailed, orderly fashion that I felt embarrassed just listening, but I truly think there is nothing more trivial than the story of how we met.
Thinking that, I returned to the dining table to serve tea and mentioned it was my turn to speak, but I made an excuse, saying, 'I need to clear the tray...' and with a bitter smile, I retreated to the kitchen to put the tray away. I had him keep the conversation going, and just as I was about to sit down, he signaled with his eyes that it was my turn now.
However, I felt that if only I kept talking, it might look like there was a difference in temperature between us as a couple regarding our thoughts on welcoming a child. So, while I started talking, we implicitly took turns answering questions so that I wouldn't be the only one doing all the talking.
Starting from how we met and talking about various things, I had been completely relieved that the home visit wouldn't include the second floor, but in the middle of our lively conversation, they said, 'Could you show us the second floor as well?' I froze instantly.
I had cleaned all the rooms, but not as thoroughly as the first floor, and to my horror, the futon in the bedroom was still as it was when we woke up.
'Oh no! I forgot to tidy up the futon!' I said in a panic, my mind going blank.
I reflected on how I had neglected to check each room, but what was done was done... I couldn't believe it, but reality is reality. I had no choice but to calm myself down.
Thinking I just needed to stay calm, I went down the stairs, and the staff member said, 'This is your father-in-law's room, right? May I say a quick hello?' My husband knocked on his door and told him. Since he is naturally a taciturn type, I expected him to just give a slight nod as usual, but unexpectedly, he showed a light smile.
Thinking that he must be nervous just like us, I felt his support for us as we returned to the dining table. We had a lively conversation while the four of us drank tea, but I couldn't stop worrying about the unmade futon.
After the staff left, my husband told me it was fine and not to worry about it at all, but at the time, I was truly worried about whether the futon would affect the home visit investigation.
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Thank you for reading this far
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Next is [ Basic Training Before Registration ① ]
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