Application Letter

After making the decision to adopt and choosing an agency, one of the first things you have to do is write a letter about why you want to adopt. As are most things in our life, jumping into the things was immediate, or at least looked that way. However, we had been thinking about this step for years. Eventually your gut has to take over, where your head and heart can only take you so far. Anyway, this was my first gut-spilling, and the quick letter became the basis for our application.

Reflections on Our First Adoption Experience

For Sheri, adoption was always a dream. Even after we had our first biological child, Olivia, Sheri knew that some day she would adopt. That dream came to fruition on June 28, 2001, after a very long wait, when we finally met our daughter, Maya.

Except for the waiting, our first adoption was a wonderful experience. We bonded with Maya before we had met her, and once she was with us, we immediately felt as attached to her as we did to Olivia. Seeing those two sisters so comfortable together right from the beginning confirmed that we were meant to be together.

Maya was a scared little girl, and clung to us desperately the first few months. She slowly opened up and has flourished ever since. She is smart, serious, funny, and loyal. She admires her older sister, and is admired by her baby sister. We have been very open with Maya about her adoption story. We incorporate Maya’s Chinese heritage into our family. Our entire extended family feels blessed to have her in our lives.

Even after the birth of our third daughter, Frida, in 2003, we often wondered when we would adopt again. But, as exhausted parents, it was difficult to imagine not only when, but how we would be able to add another child to our family. Parenting isn’t always easy. We can be frustrated and tired, overjoyed and exhilarated – all in the same day. Despite everything, though, at the end of the day we can look back and recognize that we are the best parents for these three girls. And it’s that same recognition that let’s us see that we have room for one more child in our lives.

By no means are we jumping into this second adoption blindly. We have no misconceptions that this will be easy, and we admit that we have fears. We suspect that having a new brother will be at first be difficult for Frida, the baby of our family. We are afraid that each of the girls won’t get the attention they need in those first months as we give special attention to our new son. We understand that the transition and attachment issues may be different than we experienced with Maya, particularly because we will most likely be adopting a child older than she was. But, we are naturally flexible, patient, kind and loving – traits that helped ease Maya’s transition. We trust that they will also help our new son feel at home in our family.

Regardless of how difficult it may at times be, and despite any fears we may have, we are stepping out in faith. We have no doubt that this second adoption is the right decision. And we are very excited. We know what it will feel like to hold him and rock him. We can hear his laughter. We can imagine him running around the corner, chasing one of our cats, in turn being chased by his three sisters. We have a place in our home for this boy.