June 28, 2020
*Names have been changed for reasons of confidentiality
Following several years of not being able to conceive and deciding not to take the IVF route, we were very open to the idea of adoption.
We could not have been more welcomed and supported by the adoption team at SFCS, who helped to give us realistic expectations of adoption and to allay our concerns. The decision to adopt has been a very positive and happy experience for our whole family – not just for us as a couple, but for our extended families too.
After working through the various stages of the assessment process – training workshops, preparation groups, home study, regular meetings with our social worker – we were approved by the adoption panel and the search for our child could begin.
Eventually, we were matched with Lucy. She was a very energetic and inquisitive three year old when we first met her. Nothing could have prepared us for the emotions of meeting her for the first time – when she ran into my arms shouting “mummy!”.
The one piece of advice I would give to anyone adopting a child or children is that you need to be equipped with as much information about their past as possible. You need to be comfortable with the story as you will need to discuss this in an open and honest manner with your children as they grow up.
Initially, all the information can seem daunting but everything is very quickly put into perspective when you meet for the first time and ‘normal life’ takes over. Having a proactive and dedicated social worker to support you through this journey is invaluable.
Having had no children in our household prior to adopting, our lives have changed in almost every possible way. A little whirlwind came into our lives and ever since we have found ourselves trying to answer all her “Why???” questions and being amazed at her development and endless energy.
It has been great to share some fantastic milestones with Lucy since she joined our family – teaching her to read, her first day at school, writing her name, learning to swim without armbands… the list goes on. We get the best hugs and smiles every morning and it’s hard to remember life before Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom or play parks! She has been an absolute joy and has enriched our lives in so many ways.
If you are considering adoption, you can find out more about our Adoption Connections service here. You can also check out our adoption resources, read more real adoption stories and find out about our next information events. And if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us – we’d love to hear from you.
Leave a Reply