Today we’d like to introduce you to La’trecia Thomas
Hi La’Trecia, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born into a family of 6. At age of 3 I was relinquished to the foster care system with my 5 biological siblings. Divided by the 3 oldest and 3 youngest. I stayed in foster care for a little over 2 years and was eventually adopted by John and Carol Thomas on 6/6/1996.
The Thomas’s adopted a total of 6 children over a five year period. I spent a total of 10 years in the care of my APs. I was subject to all sorts of abuse including financial and sexual. The sexual abuse resulting in me getting pregnant 2x and having to walk through an anti abortion protest at the age of 14.
MY adoptive parents spent 2 years and tons of money to plead no contest to abuse in the state of Pennsylvania. I was subsequently put back into foster care, now with my adopted siblings which includes my 2 biological sisters. my adoptive mother got 1 year in prison and my adoptive father was given 3-7 years in prison. I wrote The Door That Locked From the Outside and The VI to tell the my story and cement myself as a survivor so I can help others.
I am now advocating and connecting with other adult adoptees so we can talk about the trauma associated with adoption and also find some solutions to reform it and make it better for future adoptees.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Smooth?
its a beautiful word. It just does’nt fit into the life story of anyone who has to survive ANYTHING. Survival is primitive. its something you dont want to have to do.
The only reason I know I’m a survivor now is because I know how it felt when I was surviving. I hope that makes sense. Its not just tears and flashbacks and realizations. Its research and sleepless nights. Its crying alone because your rapist died and he would never admit to what he did or even apologize.
It was seeing how different I was developing as a person juxtapose to the other young adults I was around. It was being helpless and homeless with my kids and NEVER having any family to fall back on. It was knowing I had to own all my failures and successes and view them each objectively. It was giving myself advice on life while just figuring out how to live it.
I felt everything so deeply. I had to learn to not take life personal. I had to learn to love myself. that was truly the hardest part. mainly because I didnt know what love was. I know now. Now i love every version of myself even the broken one. The broken me could never imagine us being this GREAT.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
For as long as I can remember I have been a writer. When I was a kid I would spend hours reading and writing.
By the time I was 16 I had quite the collection of short stories and poetry and various writings.
I would randomly write nice messages and cards for people on their birthdays by personalizing the message specific to my encounters with them. Often things the person had forgotten. People would fawn over it and often tell me I had written something they would never forget. I realized from several of these encounters that I have a gift of personal engagement. A gift of detail that could warm and change a persons mood, heart. day. Even their LIFE.
I”ve written about death while also paying my respects to lives very meticulous and miraculous lessons. I often incorporate music of all kinds into my writing. Having a vast array of music helps me gather inspiration and revisit moments.
I’m also lucky to live in an era where their are so many ways to turn something you write on paper into a visual or audio or eventually a cerebral experience. This is my ultimate goal to grab the minds but also analytical souls of my readers. I appreciate them more than they know.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Hmmmm. Risk are tests. Sometimes they arise from circumstances that we create on our own.
There is that instance when you are presented with a risk that test your ego and comfort zone.
Those are tricky because most often they want to offer growth.
I have skipped out on accepting some of those. mainly because I was afraid of growing pains.
Now I welcome the challenge. When I revisit some of my old risks I become ashamed for not always following through because in reality no matter the risk there is a sacrifice. I think that determines alot.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @the_blavkrobe
- Youtube: @BlavkRobe
