When a Hoax Goes Terribly Wrong

Photo: KJ Dell’Antonia, New York Times

For as much as I promote hard — and sometimes painful — honesty in our family, I occasionally try to sweeten the truth. Like when Grace lost her teddy bear and I staged an elaborate Christmas comeback for Rainbow, something you’d see in a Bing Crosby movie.

It didn’t go as I’d planned. In fact, few things do. Here’s the full story in today’s New York Times.

I wrote this story a little while ago and I didn’t get the metaphor until now: This is a story about adoption, loss, and acceptance. It’s the lesson of our lives.

Vanessa McGradyWhen a Hoax Goes Terribly Wrong