A biological mother thought to be long gone has reentered the life of her daughter, leading to an unexpected reunion after 25 years. Stephanie Valentine was in the midst of writing her first novel, The Language of First Love, focused on adoption and her desire to connect with her roots, when she thought she was saying goodbye to her mother permanently.
At 31, she had long resigned herself to the idea that seeing her mother was out of the question. Valentine, one of five children of Lt. Colonel Meiling and Todd Merrill Valentine, experienced separation from her parents when her mother left their lives following their divorce, ultimately moving with her father to the U.S.
Yet, Valentine expressed a deep need for understanding and closure. Writing became her outlet, and she contributed to an anthology, “When We Become Us,” detailing her experiences as an adoptee.
After exhausting her efforts with family and historical records—convinced her mother was, in fact, deceased—Valentine received a life-changing call on New Year’s Eve 2023.
Her step-sister told her about a Taiwanese woman involved with their Mormon Church who had grown up with her mother. This woman would help reunite them.
Eventually, Valentine and her brother established contact with Ms. Meiling through texts and planned a trip to Taiwan. They met her in person for the first time in August at Taoyuan International Airport after two decades.
“I wondered if I’d recognize her, and I did. It was incredible to finally hug her. I really needed that,” Valentine recalled.
She shared feelings of anxiety, nervousness, fear, but also excitement about their reunion. The resemblance between her and her 57-year-old mother was striking, and during their two weeks together, they made up for lost time—exploring markets, visiting an aquarium, and celebrating Meiling’s birthday.
As for the book, Valentine remarked that it feels “very therapeutic,” focusing on Catie, a Taiwanese American teen who seeks to reconnect with her culture by learning Mandarin.
