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!
Two kids are holding hands in a hallway. Their world has already been tipped over once. Maybe even more. For kids in foster care, a sibling is often the one thread that hasn’t snapped. Same memories. Same weird jokes. Same person who remembers what bedtime used to be like.
You’ve said yes to growing your family. It’s a brave decision. But alongside that comes the taxing paperwork, training, and workshops. The challenges that come with foster care adoption don’t even end there. You have to manage the emotional transitions, new family dynamics, and the needs of a child who may have gone through trauma.
Growing your family through an adoption plan can make you feel hopeful and anxious at the same time. It’s a personal and emotionally complex endeavor that’s also filled with specific legal requirements, steps, and timelines that can overwhelm many.
Open Arms Adoptions is 501(c)3 non-profit agency licensed by the State of Ohio.