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OA&FS Prospective Adoptive Families - Dear Birthparents Letter

From Dean and Scot

Dear Birthparents,
We’re so excited to have this opportunity to introduce ourselves to you and hope you enjoy learning a little bit about us – well, as much as is possible on a single sheet of paper!

Our names are Dean and Scot (yes, just one “t”) and we have been together for over 15 great years. We met in college while working at the campus pizza shop, became instant friends over shakes and M&M’s, and began a romance just over a year later. Our love has withstood many trials, including a three-year long-distance relationship and the deaths of close family members. Through these challenges, we’ve been strengthened by the individuality and experiences of the other and have formed a true partnership of honesty, trust, respect and friendship.

Seattle has been our home for the past 12 years. We live on a quiet street in a great 1920s Craftsman bungalow with a surprisingly big yard given its proximity to downtown. Sharing the house are Cleo and Max, our two cats, who bring added love and laughter to our lives with their playful antics and spontaneous bursts of energy. Our neighborhood is full of folks walking their dogs, several parks where all sorts of families play, and a variety of restaurants, including Scot’s favorite cupcake shop, which he’d visit more often if Dean would only let him.

Aside from being the dietary disciplinarian, Dean is an architect working with a small firm specializing in the preservation of historic buildings and the design of low-income and affordable housing for homeless individuals and working families. It’s a far cry from the mega-mansions he obsessively built with Legos while growing up, but he finds it immensely more fulfilling. Dean claims to be shy and introverted, particularly in large social settings, but friends know he’s goofy, outgoing, and remarkably thoughtful. He considers patience and persistence to be among his best qualities and hopes these traits serve him well as a parent, particularly when it comes to potty training.

Scot fell into an “accidental career” working as an Information Technologies manager for a major wireless phone provider. He is most challenged by trying to bring a human and emotional perspective to an otherwise fast-paced and technical environment. Outside of work, he serves on the board of a community foundation that strives to bring equality to marginalized communities in the Pacific Northwest. While Scot can gravitate toward seriousness, he’s really gregarious, caring, and generous. Scot has a hard time saying “no” – or rather, likes to say “yes”! – and always makes time for others, especially family and friends.

Together, we enjoy cooking (and eating!), hiking, camping, gardening and especially traveling. We are fortunate that Dean’s folks have a home in Greece, which makes traveling there and to other places in Europe convenient. Mexico is another favorite destination and we hope to soon add South America and Australia to the list.

We each have strong relationships with our biological families and, although they live all over the country, we stay in close contact and make it a priority to see our nieces and nephews at least a couple of times a year. Friendships are also very important to us, and we are lucky to have several close friends in town, many with kids, all of whom we consider part of our extended family. The strong presence of children in our lives, the enjoyment we feel in watching them grow, and the depth of our love for them have led us to realize we’re ready to be dads ourselves.

Education, opportunity and equality are the foundations we hope to provide to our child. Curiosity, adventure and fun are qualities we expect to instill through exposure to travel, the arts and nature. Unconditional love, security and patience are among the gifts we can give to foster self-confidence and self-esteem. Bringing a child into this world is a precious gift, and we are humbled and honored by the prospect of developing an open, honest and ongoing relationship with the birthparent(s) of our child. But whether you chose us, another family, or a route other than open adoption, we sincerely wish you great peace in reaching your ultimate decision.

Dean and Scot

For this family's complete adoptive parent profile, please contact Open Adoption and Family Services

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