My name is Li Jiangmei, an ordinary but great Chunhui mama.

Diary of Chunhui Mama Jiangmei

Feb 1, 2022 (Spring Festival)

In the spring of 2009, I, around the age of 40, began to work for Chunhui Children and ever since then, I have never taken one day off work. I often think that my life in the past 12 years has been very “extraordinary” as I have touched the lives of 23 children.

All my 23 children have special needs and were given up by their birth parents. My husband Wu and I have lived with them in the welfare institution and we take each of them as our own.

Wu loves the children dearly. He is gentle and caring and, in the past decade, he has always been there for me. He also let the children know what a great dad looks like.

Whenever I am overwhelmed with frustration and doubt whether I want to go on with what I am doing, he does everything possible to cheer me up, because he knows that despite all the challenges confronting us, we both hate to leave the family and the children. 

2022 Spring Festival is approaching. We will stay in the institution during the holiday. Wish everything goes well in 2022.

Feb 2, 2022

In the past 12 years, we welcomed 23 children and finally parted with them, one after another.

There are always 4-5 children in our family. We provide each of them loving care, in the hope that they could be adopted and have a family of their own.
When a child is about to leave for his/her new adoptive family, my husband and I are both happy and upset because we know that we may never see each other again.
At one point I wish the child remembers me and the sweet days we’ve spent together. But at another point I wish she/he forgets me and all the misfortunes she/he’s experienced. 
Each time I learn that one of my children is going to be adopted, I start to prepare a letter for his/her adoptive parents. I must let them know his/her hobbies, habits and temperament…… There are so many details I want to put in the letter that I write down everything rushing upon my mind, even in the depth of the night. My husband stays with me, at the bedside, and together we recall the littlest moments we’ve shared with the children, moments of laughter and moments of tears…… 
“Mei, don’t even bother to hide the child. That won’t work. Don’t worry, when his adoptive parents come, I’ll receive them. You don’t have to say goodbye……” my husband consoles me. 

How I wish I could keep the child to myself. But, alas, parting comes so quickly.
At that very moment, I stay away from home so as not to be broken out by the separation. But when I come back, I hear my husband say, with eyes welling up with tears: “They seem to be a nice couple. Our child will be blessed.” Then he stares blankly into our family’s photographs on the wall……

For quite a long time after the child’s departure, I feel terrible. My other children often come over, pat my back softly and say: “Mama, you still have us.” Their sweet words are a great comfort. Then we welcome a new child and I brace up again.

A new year is approaching. My dear children, how are you doing in your new family. I miss you a lot. Wherever you are, I wish you health and happiness.

Feb 3, 2022

Year in and year out, the children who left our home must have grown up.

I have kept a diary and an album of our family. They make me realize that the past 12 years has been an extraordinary journey of life for me and I have been so fortunate to have a loving husband and 23 adorable children whom I will hold dear to my heart for the rest of life.

My two older daughters Wanwan and Dongzhi both suffer from Down Syndrome. When they first came to our family, they were little babies, but now they are big cheerful girls.

Modelling themselves on these two big sisters, the younger kids have learned to help around the house as well. These angelic children help transform our home into a wonderful little place where love bonds us all together.

The three younger boys Rong, Yong and Jun all have mental impairment. When they first came, they needed support for almost everything, but now they are doing much better. As they say, there is a silver lining in every cloud. I believe that given enough love, even the most “hopeless” children have a chance to work wonders. 

Every child born into the world is like a seed. Even if some of them were hurt by the bitter cold of winter, they will finally break through the soil and shoot up. I hope all my children could blossom out, venture into the world, learn to love and be loved.