Dear Birthparent(s):
We are Michael and Jill, and we've gotta whole lotta love to give! We are excited about sharing that love with a child through adoption. With our daughter Catherine, we've created a caring and nurturing family that eagerly awaits a little boy or girl to adore and cherish.
We wish you strength and courage as you face the decisions ahead and hope this letter gives you a sense of comfort and reassurance about who we are as individuals, as parents and as a family.
WHY OPEN ADOPTION FEELS RIGHT TO US
Even before we met, we had both considered having children through adoption. Not just because it appeared as though we couldn't have them the old-fashioned way, but because we both loved kids and had seen so many wonderful adoption experiences. Although we feel incredibly fortunate to have had Catherine -- a medical feat that cannot be repeated -- we feel equally blessed for the opportunity to have more children through adoption.
Each of our children, whether they're biological or adopted, will have a unique birth story and heritage, which we will share with them throughout their lives. For a child placed with us, we hope the birth family will play a role in that. That's why we are open to visits with the birth family as well as to sending letters and photos on a regular basis. Because for us, openness isn't just something that comes courtesy of the Cradle, it's at the core of who we are.
OUR APPROACH TO PARENTING
Here are just a few of the "gifts" we hope to give our children: a sense of security that comes from giving and receiving unconditional love; strength to face life's challenges (and a sense of humor to keep it all in perspective); and wisdom to make good choices. Instilling these gifts will be an ongoing challenge, but we believe the most important things we can do as parents is lead by example, provide positive reinforcement, and respect and celebrate each child's individuality.
MICHAEL AND JILL: A TRUE PARTNERSHIP
We met at an engagement party in 2001 and felt an immediate connection. Jill was drawn to Michael's humor, sincerity and passion about his work as a city planner; Michael was drawn to Jill's sharp sense of humor and her inward and outward beauty. Our love grew from our joy of laughter, our shared values and the immeasurable pleasure of just being together.
FOCUSING ON FAMILY
Family life has truly been the most fulfilling experience of our lives. To focus on raising a family, Jill made a career shift so she could spend more time being a mom (she works two days in the office and she's home the rest of the week). As for childcare for a new child, on the two days Jill works (Jill will take at least 3 months of “maternity” leave), we will start by having a babysitter in our home. Around the age of 2, we'd try day care for two days a week and then, at 3, preschool on those days. We would tweak this plan if necessary based on the unique needs of the child.
JILL'S STORY
I was raised in a suburb of Washington D.C., along with my older sister. We grew up playing kick-the-can with neighborhood kids, swimming at the community pool and dancing on our beds to our favorite top 40 songs. Following my parents' divorce when I was 10, my parents both remarried, introducing me to the whole concept of nontraditional families and the notion that your family isn't defined by genes.
A graduate of the University of Michigan (with a BA in English and Political Science), I've had the opportunity to travel (I love to take road trips) and enjoy many of the great experiences Chicago has to offer (e.g., spectator sports, outdoor festivals and good food). I'm a writer and editor -- a profession that allows me to be creative and gives me a flexible work schedule. Although I've never mastered an instrument, I love music and sing not only in the shower but also in the car and with our church choir. And, thanks to Michael's influence, I now enjoy more time in the great outdoors by camping, biking, kayaking and hiking.
MICHAEL'S STORY
I was raised by my parents in the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, along with my older sister. Beyond my immediate family, I was lucky to have grandparents, aunts, uncles and a cousin within several miles. Family time for me was always a time of celebration and openness, and I try to incorporate these values into my family today.
I earned two degrees from the University of Wisconsin, both of which focused on my career choice of being a city planner. I have focused my career on the improvement of low-income and underserved neighborhoods. My current position allows me to take community development one step further, as I'm now working to build affordable housing where it's needed. My interests in community extend into my private time. I serve on the board of directors of a non-profit organization that works with teens from low-income neighborhoods and am the finance director at our church. I enjoy sharing my outdoor interests with Jill and Catherine, including gardening, running and biking.
CATHERINE'S STORY
Catherine, born in 2005, is an outgoing little girl with a great sense of humor. She loves to dance, sing to tunes on Jill's iPod, dress up and play soccer. Now in preschool part-time, she can't wait to be a big sister.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND FAMILY LIFE
We live in a house we have transformed into a wonderful home, which is warm, welcoming and full of toys and books. Through Catherine's preschool, the park, our church and just strolling through the neighborhood, we have met many good friends. We appreciate that we live in a diverse part of Chicago -- it's a great neighborhood to grow up in, no matter what your race or ethnicity.
We are a family that likes to walk, so we're happy to be close to parks as well as our church, the library, shopping and the El stop, which allows us to get downtown easily. Although we love family adventures, like vacations to Florida and camping in Wisconsin, the greatest parts of our family life are the small things: reading the paper together on Sunday mornings; exploring museums; hiking through the woods; and making dinner together.
As a family, we feel as though we have a great thing going and we believe it can get even better through open adoption. We are very excited about the prospect of adding more children to our family via adoption and welcoming birthparents and their families into our family.
Thank you for taking the time to read our letter and getting to know us. If and when you are ready, we'd love to meet you and learn about your hopes for your child. For more about us, e-mail us at adoption@cradle.org or call the Cradle at 800-272-3534.
We wish you all the best in the journey ahead.
Sincerely,
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