Yesterday was full. You were probably around family, maybe at church, talking, staying busy. Even if things felt complicated underneath, it likely helped quiet your thoughts for a little while. But today is quieter. And if you’re pregnant and unsure what to do, this is often when everything comes back. The questions feel louder. You [...]
The weather in Cincinnati feels heavy today. The sky is gray, the air is damp, and everything outside looks a little darker than usual. You know the kind of day, the kind where the clouds seem to settle in and stay for a while. Have you ever noticed how sometimes [...]
It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and if you are anything like me, that first Valentine’s Day hit hard after my placement. Even though Valentine’s Day is a day of love and mostly geared toward couples, my first “love” was my child I had recently placed, and she wasn’t in my arms. I [...]
The tears that come with making such a complex decision are heavy. This is not a decision you make lightly. It’s not a single choice made in passing. It’s one you wrestle with, debate, circle back to pray over, and sit with in the quiet. And even when you finally [...]
For many adoptive families, the holiday season is a time overflowing with joy, gratitude, new traditions, and precious memories. But for many birth moms, this same season can carry a mix of emotions like pride, love, grief, hope, and sometimes a deep longing. Even in the most beautiful open adoptions, [...]
When you’re starting the adoption journey, one of the biggest choices you’ll make is who to work with. There are national agencies that serve families and expectant parents across the country, and there are local agencies that work within specific states or regions. Both can help create beautiful adoption stories, but [...]
When someone close to you makes an adoption plan, it can be hard to know what to say or how to show up. A birth mom’s journey is filled with love, sacrifice, and sometimes deep grief. Friends and family often want to help, but they aren’t sure how. The truth [...]
Self-care is a big part of the adoption journey. Healing takes time, and that means making space to focus on yourself. With adoption comes grief, but it also brings out an incredible strength within you, and carrying both at once can feel heavy. Taking care of your heart, body, and [...]
Adoption language is key because the words we use shape how we view and understand adoption. For generations, society has repeated specific phrases that carry negative weight, words that unintentionally create shame, misunderstanding, and stigma. Adoption has changed over the years, yet outdated language still lingers. When someone is considering [...]
No one grows up planning to choose adoption. It’s a decision that comes in the middle of an unplanned pregnancy, when you’re faced with questions you never expected to answer. So often I hear women say, “I don’t want to give my baby up.” What they may not realize is [...]
