Today my son’s fish died, and for the first time in 5 years, after spending time in attachment therapy, learning therapeutic parenting, taking courses and hours of research, my son was able to identify his real emotions. Thanks to Mr. Fish for giving my son the opportunity to learn from this.

Adopting a child was something I'd always thought would happen at some point in my future, but I certainly never set out to adopt a child with special needs or Down syndrome, let alone as a single parent. But alas, this is my story—our story—and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Reflecting on why I do what I do—I think of my daughter. It was her experience and allowing me to share in her joy of knowing that she isn’t the only one, that I now get it; Adopt4Life is for our children as much as it is for us parents. Adopt4Life is about community! This is my why!

Adopt4Life isn’t just an organization, it isn’t just a group of families trying to support one another through access to resources, advocacy and support. Its about belonging, acceptance. Its about giving, and receiving. Its knowing where to go when you are having a hard time, and sharing in a success that only a certain few would really get. It’s having someone on the other end of the phone who truly gets it, and who can not only help you though it, but go though it with you

This our Adoption Journey and our perspectives only. Being Adoptive Parents has been the most challenging and rewarding experience in our lives, we wouldn’t trade it for the world. We just pray that we do right by our children who we love very much and pray they grow up to be wonderful amazing people, as the wonderful amazing children they are!

Our intention was to grow our family by 1 or 2, when in actuality it has grown by at least 100 or more... it truly does take a community, for us as parents and in turn our children benefit as well. I know sometimes it is human nature.

Adopt4Life provides essential resources and support for adoptive families across the province and it is very rewarding to be able to help others with their adoption journey. My role as a Regional Parent Liaison in Toronto also allows me to regularly learn about new local resources and supports that may not only benefit the Adopt4Life community, but also myself and my family.

We are a trans-racial and trans-cultural family. In contemplating what to write for a blog post on this topic, I invited my 7 year-old daughter to share her perspective, and she was interested in the opportunity to contribute. Here are her thoughts.

In that moment, I knew that I would take on the task of moving her from a birth into captivity and introducing her to the freedom of choice that the human spirit longs for… that kids born into health here in Canada take for granted.

Two years ago, my husband and I adopted a sibling group of two under four years old age. Going from no kids to two kids at similar developmental stages—it felt like I had just adopted twins. What had I done!? I had left a full-time job in health care to on mat leave within 2.5 weeks. From pant suits to yoga pants and mom bun with limited adult conversation. Although I loved new motherhood, it was really challenging on so many levels.

I want to leave you with one last thought, my foster mom has a poster in one of the bedrooms that says, “you are stronger than you seem, braver than you believe, and smarter than you think.” During my last 5 years I have realized that I am all of these things.

“I have three kids, and I’ve never had a baby shower.”