Family to Family Adoptions Inc, Adoptive Families, Birth Mothers

We always place great emphasis on making our clients feel as comfortable with us and the adoption process as we possibly can. It is rewarding to us when our clients express their thanks in notes to us about their experience. We have posted a few of the notes we have received over the years on our site as “Testimonials from Adoptive Families” and “Testimonials from Birthmothers“.

I wanted to share a letter we received about a year ago from a young woman who placed her son with us in June 2005.  She is now married and has a great job and all around great life.  This is not an unusual story and many birth families find resolution and happiness after placement if they have the right support and treatment from the agency they have chosen to help them through this process.

“I know I am so lucky to have so many people in my life that are so understanding.  At first, my mom and family were super upset that I didn’t tell them about the baby and the adoption until after the fact.  I couldn’t…they would have tried to interfere and I knew I was doing the right thing.  They’ve since become very supportive.  They know I did this out of love.  I don’t feel ashamed like I did before.  Instead, I’m proud of the sacrifice I made so that my baby could have a better life.

I’ve recommended your agency…but they chose to go through with an abortion.  Seeing them through what they did, made me all the more grateful that my situation unfolded the way it did.

Sometimes  I think about the baby and I’m a little sad…but I know that’s just life.  Things don’t always turn out the way you plan them to.  But I do believe in fate and that everything happens for a reason.  I love my life now…I have a great life…I couldn’t ask for anything else.  Thank you and your agency for all that you’ve done for me and my family…all of us.  I really love you guys!!!!”  H…placed June 2005

Many of our birth mothers have thanked us for how we have helped them in the adoption process and we have posted a few of their comments on our site as “Birth Mother Testimonials“.

Thankfully, creating your family through adoption is now a fully accepted practice in our society.  But, birth mothers who place their child for adoption may still have some reservations about their child’s full acceptance in the adoptive family.  The best way to prevent a biological parent from having to worry about the decision and sacrifice she made for her child is to contact the biological family as you agreed.

Birth parents in the 21st Century expect to be able to see the child they placed for adoption grow up through a variety of ways.  There is always the tried and true method of contacting each other through the agency or attorney if they offer that on-going service, but in the 21st Century, there are many, many other choices.  Social media has revolutionized the ability of birth parents and adoptive parents to share news and pictures of the child they both love.  Family websites can be password protected so that only people who should have access, have the access.  Twitter and Facebook offer almost instantaneous communication.

It is very important for both the adoptive family and the birth family to be able to share photos and information about the child that they both love.

The office will be closed starting at noon on Thursday, December 23rd and will be closed all day on Friday, December 24th. The office will also be closed on Friday, December 31st so that the staff can celebrate the holidays with their families. Thank you and Happy Holidays from all of our staff!

I cannot believe that we are in December already and the holidays are approaching so fast.  Don’t forget about your birth parents and get those pictures and/or holiday gifts to us early to be sure that they receive them in time. Need an idea for a gift? Is your baby in our 2011 Calendar? Order one or several and we will send it direct to your birth parents. And don’t forget if your child is in the calendar that they also make great gifts for the extended family.

On Sunday July 25, 2010, a church in our area reserved a space and brought in lunch for our birthmothers. The birthmothers spent several hours doing craft projects and talking to the small group members from the church. They also were presented with gift cards to local stores and restaurants. Each of our birthmothers had positive comments about their afternoon and was very appreciative.

Family to Family would like to thank Grace Methodist Church in Katy for their time and thoughtfulness. Our staff and our birthmothers appreciate their support.

Click2Houston recently did an interview with our staff and one of our birth mothers. This is a very informative piece and illustrates the work that we do and the way that we help our client families.

Are you or someone you know experiencing an unplanned pregnancy? If so, first stop and take a deep breath and realize that you are not alone. Research has stated that every year 49% of pregnancies are unplanned, the highest percentage being among teenagers and individuals who do not have easy access to birth control.

If you are pregnant, you have several options to consider. These include parenting your child, having an abortion, or deciding to make an adoption plan for your child. This decision will be difficult and should not be made lightly. You will be forced to reflect on past events in your life that got you to this point as well as thinking of your future with a child and how that will affect your dreams and goals. If you are at a place in life where a child fits into your plan, then congratulations on your pregnancy.

It is important to immediately start receiving good prenatal care and taking care of you. If you are not at a time in your life where a child fits into the picture then you have a decision to make. Know that because you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and are considering not parenting a child does not mean that you do not love or want this baby. It just means that now is not a good time for you. Maybe you are in school working towards a degree, maybe you are on the fast track at a job, maybe you are not in a committed relationship and cannot raise a child on your own or maybe you just are not ready to have a child to care for at this time.

So now you must decide between having an abortion or placing the baby for adoption. If you are considering an abortion, you will want to consider all of the pros and cons of the process and talk to someone that handles abortions and get all of your facts first. You should also consider that there is an abortion alternative and this process is adoption.

The word adoption is becoming more widely used thanks to the many celebrities and high profile individuals that have announced their adoptions. Adoptions used to be a closed process but now they are more open. Open adoptions leave the birthmother to choose the family for her child and receive updates of the child after the placement. Meeting and getting to know your adoptive family will make your adoption experience much more enjoyable.

Finding the right adoption agency to work with can be overwhelming. There are so many agencies out there that it can be difficult to decide. Gather as much information about the adoption agencies that you can and then work with the agency that best suits your needs and that you are the most comfortable with. Having a relationship with the adoption professionals will also help in making this process easier.

An unplanned pregnancy is difficult and will change your life whichever path you choose. Making this decision will be one of the hardest decisions you will ever make, but by taking the time to research your options and listening to yourself, you will be able to figure out which path is for you. Your baby is counting on you to make the best decision for his/her life so let the idea sink in and then think of you and your future and your baby’s future.

Are you faced with an unplanned pregnancy and considering placing your baby for adoption? Making the decision to place your child for adoption is a very hard one but also a very loving one. Family to Family’s staff can help you through the process of finding the right home for your child. We have adoptive families that all have been carefully screened and are waiting to bring a child into their home. Visit our website or contact us and we can get you started in the process of placing your child for adoption. If you are considering placement but are not sure and would like someone to talk to give us a call and then you can make your decision. Whether you choose adoption or to parent your child we wish you the best of luck.

Tapestry Books has information for all members of the adoption triad including children’s books. The books are helpful for both adoptive families and for birthmothers and for domestic and international adoption. They even have books to help you get started on that Lifebook for your child. If you are looking for some more information on the adoption process, check them out online.