JOURNEY TO MY DAUGHTER

August 13, 2021 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Adoption Story with Author, Jennifer Asher – Now Available for Pre-Order

“I tried so hard at the beginning to force things to go my way. I eventually recognized that I needed to follow the signs when I was headed down the wrong path. When I let go of control a bit, and allowed the tide to direct me, everything worked out as it should.”

A powerful idea. A brave expedition. We hear it constantly on this journey to have a baby, grow our family, or extend our family, right? Don’t force things. Just relax. Go with the flow. Stay positive, have faith, don’t stress… But sometimes hearing it from someone who has actually worn the shoes, been there, done that, and even wrote a book about it – we can listen more closely and too, let go – even if just a little bit – of our control and as Jennifer puts it, allow the universe to conspire.

Jennifer and Marc adopted a baby in 2001 from Adoption Choices of Oklahoma. After multiple miscarriages, their journey through adoption took them across the world and back and ultimately landed in Oklahoma. All they knew from the beginning is that they wanted the entire process to be done quickly. International adoption was their chosen route and specifically, Vietnam, was their destination.

Jennifer details in her book, Journey to My Daughter, the sometimes difficult, often surprising, and looking back hilarious obstacles along the way. Knowing Jennifer and Marc have a beautiful 20 year old daughter doesn’t deter the edge of the seat craving for ‘what happened next!?’ When they say “This child was meant to be our child!” you too, feel it in your soul!

Jennifer first wrote the book, 20 years ago to her daughter. She knew from the beginning to get it all in ink, to remember the details, so she could later share the full report with her. The adoption was no secret and in fact, they maintained an opportunity for an open adoption after placement with the birth parents. Over time the relationship has changed, new relationships have developed, and of course with social media, communication is simple and fast.

After much encouragement Jennifer shares her story in this compelling memoir detailing miscarriage, adoption, and self-discovery. In hopes to be published in December, Jennifer has created a campaign to help reach funding for publishing. If everything feels like it’s going wrong, this adoption story will help you realize you are being led to everything that is right! Plus, pre-order means exclusive rewards!

You will receive a personally signed copy of Journey to My Daughter with a handwritten thank-you note.
Your name will appear in the Acknowledgments section of the book (“with Special Thanks to”).
You will receive early access to the Introduction and some excerpts from the book, with the opportunity to review it and give early feedback.
You will have the opportunity to be involved in selecting the cover and author photo.
You will be invited to join Jennifer’s Author Community and get behind-the-scenes sneak peeks into the publishing process.
And much more!

Place your order for Journey to My Daughter now! <— Click Here!!

Jennifer is offering an exclusive perk for Adoption Choices adoptive families. She is prepared to help you help your child understand their adoption story by helping you create the language for your own personalized book for your child. Most adoptive parents understand the importance of talking to their adopted child about their adoption story and adoption identity. However, no matter how much preparation they do, some adoptive parents still wonder exactly how to talk to their child about adoption in a positive way that they can understand.

With Jennifer’s expertise – which will include a one-on-one consultation – she will help you develop a clear understanding for your child and express your excitement and gratitude about the way your child came into your life. Putting your adoption story in writing provides a concrete story that can be referred to again and again throughout their childhood!

This opportunity is only available to Adoption Choices adoptive families and is only available for a short time!

For more information, you can connect with Jennifer at jenniferroseasher@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jennifer-Rose-Asher-Author-100593285646703 or @Jennifer Rose Asher
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferroseasher/ or @jenniferroseasher
Twitter: @Jenrasher
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferroseasher/

Adoption Choices of Missouri serves birth parents statewide and beyond, please call us or text us to learn more! Call us toll free at 877-903-4488 or, in Missouri call or text us at 1-816-527-9800

Birth Mother Blog

Missouri Adoption Process with an Adoption Specialists or Caseworker

August 11, 2021 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Missouri Adoption Process with an Adoption Specialists or Caseworker

When a pregnant woman contacts Adoption Choices of Missouri an adoption specialists or caseworker is often the first person she will make contact with. An adoption social worker is the key team member in the Missouri adoption process. He/she will facilitate all the logistical and medical requirements of the adoption as well as provide counseling and emotional support. She will also provide resources for any additional support you need throughout the unplanned pregnancy, the birth, and the adoption post placement.

What is an Adoption Specialist?

Adoption Choices of Missouri’s adoption specialists are licensed social workers and certified professionals. What does this mean? First, it means they have the education, knowledge, and experience to help birth parents and adoptive families through adoption. And second, it means they are bound to state and federal laws that surround adoption and will ensure the safety – legally, medically, morally and ethically – for the adoption triad.

It takes years of education, training, and certifications to be a licensed social worker for adoption. It typically begins with a 4 year degree in social work followed by graduate studies. They often study child psychology, human behavior, social sciences, and diversity – among other important topics.

Adoption Process with a Missouri Adoption Specialist

Your caseworker will go over all your pregnancy options. He/she will discuss your parenting options, terminating your pregnancy and whether or not this is an option for you, and your adoption options. When you understand your choices and your rights – and you’re ready to choose adoption, your caseworker will walk through the adoption process with you.

You will be required to provide a positive pregnancy test indicating that you are in fact pregnant. You will be required to fill out intake paperwork that provides the agency with more information about you – personally, medically, mentally, your family, history, background, hopes and goals. Your caseworker will help coordinate the services you need. He/she will make sure you are living in a safe, comfortable environment. If you are not, we can support you. If you need transportation to and from appointments or work – your caseworker can support you. They will be with you *literally right next to you!* every step of the way as you create your adoption plan, find an adoptive family, and go through the legal process of placing your baby for adoption.

Why is it Important to have an Adoption Specialist?

Adoption in Missouri is a difficult and often emotional journey for everyone. Along with support services – financial support, housing support, coordinating health and prenatal care, other miscellaneous support – counseling is vital and has been proven to help birth mothers choosing adoption. She is making a brave but scary choice so it’s normal for them to have doubts and/or feel regret – and especially have questions along the adoption journey.

Choosing Missouri Adoption Agencies with Social Workers

When you are looking at adoption professionals and adoption agencies, and deciding who to work with, it’s okay to ask specifically about their adoption social workers. Here are a few questions you might be interested in:

Does the agency have adoption specialists dedicated to helping prospective birth mothers?
How are the social workers trained? Do they take continuing education?
Will I be assigned my own adoption social worker?
Will the adoptive family have their own social worker?
What is the social worker’s availability? Will I be able to reach them when concerns come up after hours?

Feeling confident with who you are working with through your Missouri adoption process will ensure a positive experience. Adoption can be a rewarding and loving experience for women facing an unplanned pregnancy.

Birth Mother Blog

Help Choosing Your Adoption Agency: The Adoption Process from the Adoption Specialist’s Perspective

August 9, 2021 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Help Choosing Your Adoption Agency: The Adoption Process from the Adoption Specialist’s Perspective

Are you a birth mother or pregnant woman who is facing an unexpected pregnancy and looking for the right adoption agency? Or maybe you have some idea of what kind of adoption agency you are looking for, like an adoption agency that handles private domestic infant adoptions. Still, you are unsure of the exact benefits of choosing a licensed Missouri adoption agency? Or have you already decided on an adoption agency that is right for you, but you’d like to know a bit more about the adoption process?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you have come to the right place! Adoption Choices of Missouri is here to help you and to answer any of your adoption questions. We understand how scary or overwhelming your adoption journey can sometimes feel. That is why we are here to help assuage your fears and uncertainties by letting you know some specifics about the adoption process from our perspective.

The Steps of the Adoption Process from Your Adoption Caseworker’s Point of View

Let’s take a look at adoption in Missouri from your adoption caseworker’s perspective! This way, you will get the chance to understand the entire adoption process from start to finish. You will even get a better understanding of all the extra work behind the scenes to ensure that your adoption runs as smoothly as possible for you.

Before you even call your adoption caseworker, they are already busy performing adoptive family home studies for you. That’s right, your adoption specialist is working hard for you before you even make the call! They are busy performing home studies of prospective adoptive families for our family portfolios. This is to ensure that your baby is placed in a suitable environment and make sure that your baby is placed in a safe and nurturing home that can give them both the love and the life they deserve.
The adoption specialist gets a call from a woman who says that she is unexpectedly pregnant and considering adoption. Everyone moves at different speeds. Some birth mothers call saying that they are ready and know they are choosing adoption, and some pregnant women call saying that they need help with their unexpected pregnancy. In either case, your adoption specialist is more than happy to help go over all of the unplanned pregnancy options available to you. Your adoption specialist wants to make sure that you are making the decision that is right for you.
After you choose adoption, your adoption caseworker will see what financial assistance is available to you. Your adoption caseworker will begin by asking you a few personal questions. It’s okay, and we are here to ensure that you get the help you need. Your adoption specialist will likely come visit you to perform a home study to verify if you qualify for some financial assistance for birth mothers. This will help determine if you are eligible to receive any financial aid for safe housing, rent, and utility assistance, medical care, and even help with transportation during your pregnancy. Your adoption caseworker’s top priority at all times is guaranteeing your safety and the safety of your baby during your pregnancy.
Now you and your adoption specialist can begin making your adoption plan. Once you and your adoption caseworker are satisfied with the level of care and financial support you’ll receive, you can begin making your adoption plan together! There are many benefits to making an adoption plan with our Missouri adoption agency. First, your adoption specialist will over the three types of adoption available to birth mothers and help you decide which one is right for you. After you decide between an open, closed, or semi-open adoption, you will tell your adoption specialist what adoptive family criteria are important to you. This will help your adoption caseworker narrow down which adoptive families to show you out of our adoptive family portfolios! Besides, you already know that your adoption specialist has performed home study tests to ensure that all of the adoptive families in our portfolios are pre-screened and pre-qualified to adopt. You and your adoption specialist will also go over your hospital birth plan to make arrangements for your delivery.
Your adoption caseworker gets to tell the adoptive family that they will be parents. This is the greatest news an adoptive family can hear, and we get to tell them! Your adoption specialist with speak with the adoptive family to deliver them the good news that they will be parents. If you would like to meet them beforehand, this is when your adoption caseworker will set up a meeting between you and the adoptive family. Please be mindful that there may be some visitation restrictions due to COVID-19.
Your due date is here! It is time for your adoption caseworker to enact your hospital birth plan! This is your big day! Your adoption specialist will set into motion the hospital birth plan that the two of you decided on while making your adoption plan. This means making any necessary travel arrangements to get to the hospital, getting your adoption consent paperwork ready to file in court, and notifying the adoptive family that the big day is here. By now, you and your adoption specialist already went over any important things you may need and whether or not you want the adoptive family present during your delivery. Please keep in mind that there may be some hospital visitation guidelines in place due to COVID-19 as well.
Your adoption specialist will help you navigate your post-placement journey. The big day is over, and your baby is safe at home with their adoptive family—now what? Just because your adoption process is over does not mean that your adoption caseworker is done caring about you! Your adoption specialist will make sure that you are doing OK and help guide you towards any extra help you may need. They can point you toward counseling and emotional support services for birth mothers to help you adjust to post-placement life. It is perfectly natural to experience some grief over the loss of parenthood, and we are here to help you through this difficult time.

Call Our Missouri Adoption Agency Today: Your Adoption Specialist Is Ready and Waiting to Hear from You

Don’t hesitate to call Adoption Choices of Missouri today! Your adoption specialist is ready and waiting to answer all of your adoption questions. Even though your adoption caseworker is already hard at work performing home study tests on your behalf, you still have to call them and let them know that you need help with your unexpected pregnancy. The sooner you call us, the sooner we can get to work helping you!

Adoption Choices of Missouri serves birth parents statewide and beyond, please call us or text us to learn more! Call us toll free at 877-903-4488 or, in Missouri call or text us at 1-816-527-9800

Meet the Author: Kelly Felix is a graduate from the University of New Orleans. She holds a BA in English as well as a BA in Sociology. Her English concentration is in journalism, and her specialties in sociology are gender studies and environmental sociology.

When she isn’t voraciously guzzling coffee or devouring books, Kelly can be found either bent over a canvas working on her art or at her computer playing video games. She has hands-on classroom teaching experience from her time working as a substitute teacher for Kelly Services. Kelly also completed an in-house editorial internship at Pelican Publishing Company, and she finished the goal internship program at Green Light New Orleans. Kelly generally exists in a state of suspended disbelief, but when she’s not there she resides in New Orleans.

Birth Mother Blog

Combatting 10 Common Misconceptions About Adoption in Missouri

August 6, 2021 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Combatting 10 Common Misconceptions About Adoption in Missouri

Having accurate information about adoption is critical when considering adoption as a pregnancy option. While many view adoption in a positive light, there are still common misconceptions about adoption that can make some potential birth mothers and adoptive parents hesitant to pursue it. Misinformation can also result in birth mothers not properly tailoring their Missouri adoption plan to their needs, thus leading to problems later on. The reality of adoption is that it’s a wonderful choice for so many women and their babies, and it gives countless couples and individuals the opportunity to be parents. That’s why Adoption Choices of Missouri wants to clear up some of these common misconceptions about adoption that could be hindering you from considering it as a viable pregnancy option.

Common Misconceptions About Adoption in Missouri

Giving Up Your Baby for Adoption in Missouri is Giving Up as a Parent

Choosing to place a baby for adoption is not a sign of failure as a birth mother. Rather, it’s a sign of being a resilient parent since adoption is not an easy choice to make. The fact that you are willing to commit to the adoption process and to a life without your child growing up at your side shows an incredible amount of strength and courage on your part.

Choosing Adoption Is Selfish

Adoption is the very antithesis of selfishness. By choosing adoption in Missouri, you are offering your child a chance at a better life despite your parental instincts wanting you to keep your baby. Whenever you place anyone’s best interests above your own, you are anything but selfish.

Birth Mothers in Missouri Are Mainly Teen Moms

While many teen moms seek out help during their teen pregnancy in the form of adoption, the reality is that women of various childbearing ages experience an unplanned pregnancy and pursue adoption. A woman in her 20s might pursue adoption if she has a career and financial goals she wants to meet before starting a family. Women in their 30s and 40s might already have families, and having another child might introduce additional strain, especially if the family is already facing economic hardships.

A Child is Better Off with Their Birth Parents

Birth parents are not inherently better than adoptive parents. A child is better off with a couple or individual who can provide him or her with support, love, and stability. A biological relationship is not a prerequisite for these critical components of a healthy upbringing.

LBGTQ+ or Transracial Adoptions in Missouri Are Too Complicated

While some people don’t support LGBTQ+ or transracial adoption due to outdated beliefs, others may be hesitant to pursue or support such adoptions due to concerns that the child might face hardships. It’s important to acknowledge that a child raised by LGBTQ+ parents or parents of a different race may encounter insensitive comments and looks or even discrimination from time to time. However, as society increasingly embraces diverse families, these concerns will likely diminish over time. Additionally, LGBTQ+ and transracial families are no less stable and loving than more traditional families.

Single People Are Unsuitable to Become Adoptive Parents

It’s perfectly valid for a birth mother to want her child to grow up in a household headed by two parents. However, there are so many wonderful unpartnered individuals who are ready and able to be amazing parents. While single parenthood can provide unique challenges in raising children, many succeed in bringing up children to be well-adjusted and ready to face the world when they grow up.

Putting Up Your Baby for Adoption Leads to Regret

Women who place their babies for adoption may experience periods of doubt about their decision. This is completely natural, but it doesn’t mean that they regret their decision. Often, they choose adoption after carefully weighing all the pros and cons of adoption and comparing them to other options such as parenting or termination. When they decide to pursue adoption, they are in complete control of the Missouri adoption process to ensure they are maximally confident in their decision, so they are less likely to feel regret.

Birth Mothers Never See Their Children Again after Adoption in Missouri

One of the great things about adoption is that there is no singular type of adoption. In decades past, it was the norm for mother and child to be permanently separated once the child was born, with little chance of reunification. However, most modern adoptions entail some level of openness. This allows birth mothers to stay in touch with their birth children and develop a relationship with them.

Openness in Adoption Violates Boundaries

While some people inaccurately believe that adoption leads to a permanent separation between mother and child, others assume that any contact between a birth mother and her child leads to confusion for the child and undermines the adoptive parents. Many adoptees are curious about their birth parents and may want to meet them someday. However, they understand that their adoptive parents are solely responsible for them and therefore have full authority over them. Additionally, adoptive parents and birth mothers agree on the role that the birth mother will play in the child’s life before the adoption is finalized to ensure everyone’s best interests are met.

Birth Mothers Can Take Back Their Children in Missouri Adoptions

A birth mother reserves the right to change her mind about pursuing adoption up until the moment she signs over her parental rights to the adoptive parents. Once she relinquishes these rights, she can’t take back her child. Therefore, adoptive parents should not worry about losing their child after the adoption is finalized.

How Can I Further Educate Myself on the Facts about Adoption in Missouri?

The better informed you are about adoption, the more content you will be with your decision. Internalizing any misinformation about adoption can result in you not getting the most out of your experience or even avoiding it as a viable pregnancy option altogether, even if it’s the right choice for you and your baby. The earlier you can get all the facts you need to make an informed decision, the sooner you can successfully navigate the adoption process. That’s why you should reach out to Adoption Choices of Missouri today, so we can answer all your adoption questions and set you on the path that’s right for you. Adoption Choices of Missouri serves birth parents statewide and beyond, please call us or text us to learn more! Call us toll-free at 877-903-4488 or, in Missouri call or text us at 1-816-527-9800

Meet the Author: Mary DeStefano is an Ohio native currently living in northern Virginia and works in the litigation consulting industry where she has experience in antitrust, product liability, and mass torts matters. She holds a B.A. in Economics (‘15) and an M.A. in Applied Economics (‘16) from the University of Cincinnati.

Mary is passionate about empowering and supporting those involved in the adoption and surrogacy processes. She finds great meaning in wielding the written word to develop impactful narratives and to help people stay informed. In her spare time, Mary can be found beachcombing and going on other adventures with her dog along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. She also has an affinity for antiquing and loves a good 80’s movie marathon.

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4 Ways to Celebrate National Sons and Daughters Day in Missouri Adoptions

August 4, 2021 Adoption Choices of Missouri

4 Ways to Celebrate National Sons and Daughters Day in Missouri Adoptions

Adoption comes with many beautiful chances to celebrate your child or adoptive child. One important holiday day is National Sons and Daughters Day-which celebrates the love you have for your child. Our local Missouri adoption agency, Adoption Choices of Missouri, wants you to know that we know how important this day is to you as a birth mother. This holiday may hold a special place in your heart as a birth mother. Now, if you are struggling to come up with ways to let your son or daughter know how special they are to you, don’t worry; we at Adoption Choices of Missouri have listed four ways that you might want to celebrate with your child.

Four Ways to Celebrate National Sons and Daughters Day

1. Visit Museums

Art, Science, and History museums are fun ways you can celebrate this family holiday and explore your child’s interests simultaneously. Capturing these beautiful memories you make with your child, and their adoptive family is a great way to celebrate family. Visiting the local Art, Science, or History museums and learning about the different paintings or how things work will bring joy to your child. As a birth mother, you will slowly discover your child’s interests and slowly bond with them if you need any advice on searching for activities to do with your child on National Sons and Daughters Day. In that case, we at Adoption Choices of Missouri can always suggest local Missouri kid-friendly museums that your child may enjoy.

2. Family Picnic

Having family picnics in the park is another way to celebrate this holiday. Our adoption agency in Missouri is always happy to recommend local Missouri parks that you may all enjoy.

Sharing lunch ideas with your child’s adoptive mother is a great way to bond. Packing up a traditional family meal that you only know as a birth mother will make your picnic more special because your child will get to taste a bit of their heritage.—having a chance to form a connection. Family picnics can be a great way to celebrate your child by playing their favorite board games, having scavenger hunts, delicious food, and enjoying time with them.

3. Arts and Crafts

Creating crafts that symbolize this day or your adoption in Missouri as a whole will help you to remember the important role that you play in your child’s life. Our adoption agency in Missouri can help you celebrate this day, by giving you a list of talented artists and shops that you could;

maybe you could create an ornament for you and your child’s adoptive mom and give both of them to your child so that your son or daughter knows that both their moms are always with them. You could also create a homemade frame that has both sets of your child’s parents’ handprints so that they know they came from hands that will forever support them as they grow up.

4. Outdoor Gardens and Zoos

Visiting family-friendly like the times when you visit the beautiful botanical gardens or the local zoos will have lush gardens and animals where you can take photos with you and your child feeding the animals or walking through a pathway of exotic flowers. Capturing these memories by taking pictures will always remind them of how loved they are; you can even create a scrapbook to put the photos in to have your child keep always to have precious moments with you and their adoptive parents.

Other Celebration Ideas for Birth Mothers

Now, if none of the previously mentioned ideas work for you as a birth mother, or if you live far away, here are some more ideas to celebrate the holiday:

Take a family vacation: Take a big family vacation, including your child’s biological and adoptive family, so that the child will learn about both sides of their family. Going on a trip as a family to your child’s favorite place will make your child feel important and heard. Letting your child pick the vacation spot may make them feel celebrated because this holiday is all about them.
Bake Cookies: Staying in and baking with your child is another great way for them to bond with you. Try new cookie recipes or stick to their favorites or a mix between both. Whichever you choose, baking cookies, telling stories, and spending some quality time with your child, is a great way to celebrate how cool your kid is.

Advice for Birth Mothers Celebrating this Holiday:

This holiday may be a mix of emotions for you as a birth parent or birth parent, but your child will be grateful to you for spending some time with them no matter how you celebrate this day. Suppose you need any advice on searching for activities with your child on National Sons or Daughters day.

Our Missouri adoption agency, Adoption Choices of Missouri, will have the tools to guide you to make sure that you have a fun and positive experience celebrating your child on this day. Remember, at our local Missouri adoption agency, we are always there to talk, listen and suggest things that may help you, a birth mother, get through some of these holidays, which might be a bit tough for you.

If you need any advice on searching for activities to do with your child on National Sons or Daughters Day, our adoption agency is in Missouri, Adoption Choices of Missouri will make sure that you and your child build memories that will last a lifetime.

Adoption Choices of Missouri serves birth parents statewide and beyond, please call us or text us to learn more! Call us toll-free at 877-903-4488 or, in Missouri call or text us at 1-816-527-9800

Meet the Author: Samara Wiley is a published author of poetry, essays, and an environmental children’s storybook called, Waiting for the Water Fairy. She graduated from Benedictine University in 2018 with a double Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and French. She has been published in three small poetry anthologies one was called Talented.

Her other writing accomplishments include: winning a high school poetry competition and $2500 for her high school, having two out of her five novels be considered for publication, and writing movie critic reviews for her university’s newsletter.

Although she has Cerebral Palsy and has had a turbulent childhood, Samara puts these small specs of herself into her writing to personally connect with her audience. She prides herself on pushing the boundaries in her writing and in her personal life with everything she does. Samara writes with her heart and a voice of compassion and loves to pull from her top passions in life.

She currently lives in Yorkville, Illinois with her mom and two sisters.

Birth Mother Blog

Life After Adoption for Birth Mothers: Can I Still Have a Family After Putting My Baby Up for Adoption in Missouri?

August 2, 2021 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Life After Adoption for Birth Mothers: Can I Still Have a Family After Putting My Baby Up for Adoption in Missouri?

Starting a new family after previously choosing adoption is not a bad thing. It’s a good thing! This is your chance to provide your baby with the life that you couldn’t obtain before. Whatever reasons you had for placing your baby up for adoption the last time you were pregnant, you’ve overcome those obstacles and are prepared to take on this challenge. You should be proud that you are growing as a person and are ready to handle this new and exciting chapter in your life.

Adoption Choices of Missouri understands that you may be considering starting a family now, despite putting your baby up for adoption during a prior pregnancy. People are supposed to grow and change. Just because you weren’t ready to raise a baby before doesn’t mean that you can’t be ready now. Your previous situation in life should never stop you from growing or moving forward. If everyone based their lives around their past decisions, we would never make any progress. There are many reasons why you may have placed your baby for adoption but are ready to start your own family now.

The Top 5 Reasons Pregnant Women Want to Raise a Baby Now but Chose Adoption Before:

You chose adoption because you were a pregnant teenager or still in school when you got pregnant. Teenage pregnancy is the most common adoption scenario that people picture. If you chose adoption because you were too young to have a baby or were still in school before, then it’s OK if you’re ready to raise a child now that you’re a bit older. Even if you are pursuing higher education, it is much easier to manage your time and create a flexible class schedule around a babysitter or daycare hours when you are in college versus when you were in high school. Now that you are older, wiser, and more along in advancing your career, you should absolutely start a family if you feel that you are ready.
You considered adoption before because you didn’t have all the resources needed to raise a baby. Babies require a lot of both your money and your time. Adoption was the right choice for you because you were not financially able to provide for your baby or because you did not have the time to devote to raising a baby. The financial assistance for birth mothers that comes with adoption probably helped you a lot back then too. You chose adoption because it was what you had to do in order to provide your baby with the best opportunities in life. Whether you were short on money, time, or both, now you feel as though you have enough of those resources readily available to raise a baby.
You needed unplanned pregnancy help because you were in an unsafe relationship or living situation. When you are in an unhealthy relationship or an unsafe living situation, the last thing you want to do is expose a baby to those conditions. The health and safety of your baby took the highest priority, and that is so brave and commendable. Even if you were able to take advantage of the safe housing for birth mothers that our adoption agency provides, you still felt that you needed to remove yourself from that situation before you could raise a healthy and happy baby. Now that you have gotten yourself out of that toxic environment, you are ready to move on with your life and start a family. You worked hard to provide a secure environment, and you feel as though you are ready to raise a baby now that you’ve achieved it.
Many pregnant women choose adoption because they don’t have good support systems in place. There’s a reason that people like to say, “It takes a village to raise a child.” It’s important to have good support systems in place when raising a baby, and maybe you didn’t have them before. These support systems can be anyone you trust, whether you have a close family member, a dear friend, or a reliable neighbor who doesn’t mind watching your baby when your shift at work runs late. But support systems aren’t just all about having a babysitter handy; it’s important that you have another adult you can talk to and confide in when you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed. Thanks to birth mother blogs and discussion forums, you now have access to a whole world of stories from birth mothers who may be going through the same things you are experiencing.
You chose adoption because you just didn’t want to raise a baby at the time. This is one of the most overlooked reasons for considering adoption in Missouri, but it is still as perfectly acceptable as any other. Maybe your last pregnancy was a surprise, and this one is more planned. Or perhaps both pregnancies were unexpected, but now you simply feel that you are ready for motherhood and want to take on this role. You chose adoption because you just didn’t want to raise a baby and weren’t looking to start a family at the time, but now you feel like motherhood is a path in life that may suit you.

Are You Worried About Whether Your Adopted Child Will Find Out They Have a Sibling?

Just because you are ready to start a new family does not mean that you forgot about your old one. If you choose open adoption as your type of adoption when making your adoption plan, your kids might be able to meet each other as siblings. It depends on if that is something you would like to arrange or speak to your adopted child about. Talk it over with the adoptive parents first to see if they feel OK with letting your adopted child know they have a sibling. The adoptive family might feel more comfortable if they have the opportunity to be the ones to break the big news first.

As always, please remember to be realistic and manage your expectations when it comes to in-person visits. If your adopted child or the adoptive family doesn’t feel comfortable with the idea of them meeting your new baby, it’s best to give them some space and let them decide when they are ready. The big news may come as a bit of a shock at first, but ultimately everyone will be better off knowing the truth. It is important that you explain to your adopted child that this does not mean you love them any less or that you love the new baby any more than them. Be patient and make sure to answer any questions they may have. This will help them overcome any initial distress they may be experiencing.

If You Need Help Exploring Your Unplanned Pregnancy Options, Call Our Missouri Adoption Agency Today

If you are pregnant and are considering adoption, don’t hesitate to call Adoption Choices of Missouri today. Whether or not this is your first rodeo, our adoption specialists are ready and waiting to help answer all of your questions. Your adoption caseworker will help guide you every step of the way on your adoption journey, so call us today. The longer you wait to call our adoption agency, the longer before we can get to work helping you navigate your adoption process.

Adoption Choices of Missouri serves birth parents statewide and beyond, please call us or text us to learn more! Call us toll-free at 877-903-4488 or, in Missouri call or text us at 1-816-527-9800

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