It may not be those exact words, but this heartbreaking sentiment is one that we hear every day at Open Arms Adoptions.
The desire to be a parent…to nurture and love a child…watching them turn into their own little person…is innate in some of us. We can’t remember when that thought entered our minds; it’s just always been there–that hope, that want, that need. And, in truth, most of us carry the assumption that we have some control over when and how that happens.
For the “lucky” ones, that assumption is true. Parenthood is prevented when we know we’re not ready. When we deem ourselves “ready” to embrace all of the joys and responsibilities of bringing a new little person into the world…we do. Granted, we have to wait about 9 months, but those months are spent with a (somewhat) definite end-point in our minds. We count down the days, prepare the nursery and pick out names.
For the families that come to us hoping to adopt a baby, the journey hasn’t gone as planned. Instead, their paths have been wrought with disappointment, heartbreak and financial investments without return. It’s hard for them not to give up hope! Marriages are stressed; faith is tested and folks begin avoiding baby showers, kids birthday parties and family gatherings where insensitive questions about “when” are inevitable.
Making the leap to learn about adoption can be like jumping the Grand Canyon! For some, this means grieving the loss of the “dream child” that they had hoped to create and cherish with their partner. For others, the leap isn’t quite as big, but a process nonetheless. Instead of counting off the days on the calendar, knowing that there’s an end in sight, they wait…and wait…and wait. Will they have months to prepare? Days? Hours? Should I buy the crib now or will it be too hard to look at the empty crib–every. single. day.
Check out Scott and Sarah’s story. It may be painfully familiar to some. The message of their story, though, is HOPE. Open Arms Adoptions was very blessed to play a small part in bringing this beautiful family together.
Watch. Enjoy. Cry. HOPE!
The first step is reaching out to a licensed adoption agency. Local children’s services agencies are a great place to start if you’re looking to provide temporary foster care. If your goal is to adopt, however, a private agency is often a better option for you. From there, you’ll attend an orientation, start your training, and begin the home study process.
The timeline for adoption varies by type, agency, and preferences. Domestic infant adoption can take up to a few years. Staying flexible and keeping your profile updated can help.
Yes, you can. A lot of families adopt siblings of varying ages. Some even thrive on that range. If your home is ready for it, you can welcome a toddler and a teenager to your family. So long as you can provide and cater to their various needs.
Open Arms Adoptions is 501(c)3 non-profit agency licensed by the State of Ohio.