Reuniting with her daughter Simone Biles has been a goal of Shannon Biles, Simone’s birth mother. The 52-year-old Shannon said, “I want to let her know that I love her and I’m very proud of her,” to a Daily Mail reporter who inquired as to how she could contact 27-year-old Simone.
“You know what, I’m simply waiting still? I want to have a conversation with [her] and respond to any queries she might have as we sit down.” Shannon went on, “I’m just waiting for Simone and [her younger sister] Adria. I would like to personally make amends with her.
I talk to Adria more often than I do Simone. All I would do is ask for her pardon. Is it possible for us to proceed? I won’t let my history define me. Now let’s proceed. I’m waiting for her to approach me, but I’m also waiting for the right moment. Come on, let’s have a seat. All I have to do is wait.” The Ohio native does follow Simone’s achievements, but Shannon disclosed that she gets the news from her father, Ronald Biles, who adopted Simone formally in 2003.
“My dad tells me what he hears about Simone. Shannon told the publication, “I talk to my dad all the time. “We’re all set now. I contacted him only to wish him a happy birthday because it was just his birthday. I ask my father for information whenever I need it. When I inquire about Simone, he updates me.”
Additionally, Shannon disclosed that when the gold medallist was just three years old, Simone and her brothers were adopted. Shannon said to the outlet in the interview that was released on Wednesday, August 14, “It was hard to give up my kids, but I had to do what I had to do.” “I couldn’t take care of them. My father didn’t want me to come and go from their lives when I wasn’t right since I was still abusing.” In 1997, Simone was born, and Shannon battled addiction. Simone and her siblings were in and out of foster care due to Shannon’s substance addiction problems until 2000, when Shannon’s 75-year-old father Ronald and his second wife Nellie took over and adopted the kids. Simone and Adria were formally adopted by Ronald and Nellie three years later. The two older siblings of the Olympian, Tevin and Ashley, were adopted by Ronald’s sister, Harriet.
Shannon, however, initially found it difficult to handle the tense connection between her dad and herself. “It felt like my dad turned off the lights for me when we signed the adoption papers—no talking, no calling, no visits. That was the first situation, Shannon recalled. “I didn’t see my kids for six years after that. I allowed the kids to transition out of respect for my dad. He believed that to be in their best interests.” Shannon disclosed her prior difficulties with addiction, but she’s doing much better and is currently “clean and sober.”
“I am an addict in recovery and I always will be. However, there is a path [to healing],” Shannon clarified. “You must learn to avoid certain people, locations, and objects. Live your life and alter your routine. Make the most of your existence.” “I’m not the person I used to be,” she said. For now, I’m alright. I’m a kind individual. I would give you my shirt back. I’m not at all like how I’ve been depicted.”