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OA&FS Prospective Adoptive Families - Dear Birthparents Letter

From Leslie

Dear Birth Parent(s),
Hi! My name is Leslie, and I appreciate your taking some time to learn about me today. My story begins with a very courageous woman who made a decision about me when she learned I was on my way. I met my adoptive parents on the day I was born and have always felt fortunate that we somehow found one another. In fact, I recall as a pre-teen, having the very thought that I might one day adopt a child and so here I am… ready now more than ever to share my zest for life, positive spirit and energy, a loving and nurturing heart, and a lifetime of dreams with a new little one entering the world.

I’ll try to offer, in this brief time together, a glimpse of the path that has brought me here. It begins with family and growing up in sunny Orlando, Florida with citrus trees in my backyard and year-round passes to Disney World. I am convinced this has something to do with my positive outlook on life! Early on, my parents emphasized the value of education so that I could provide for myself and pursue my own dreams. So, after high school, I obtained a bachelor’s degree from a liberal arts college in the South and later on, a Masters in Social Work; both helped to open many doors. First, as an accountant building a solid and secure skill base and then later choosing to follow my heart and help others wanting to make a difference in their lives. I brought together my business background with my passion for community and nonprofit programs (such as AmeriCorps), and have never looked back! The past decade I have been working with organizations that help kids succeed in school and beyond; this is aligned with my belief that ‘education opens doors’ and that learning is a lifelong endeavor. Much of my 20’s and 30’s were spent learning and developing my career, along with some meaningful travel to special places like Peru or volunteering after Katrina. I soon discovered that time really does fly. While I had not yet found Mr. Right, I am fortunate to be surrounded by incredibly loving and supportive friends; many whom I have known for over 20 years. We nearly finish one another’s sentences! I also cherish my relationship with my parents, who brought me home at 3 days old and are enthusiastically awaiting the call so they can be there for me when I become a parent. And so, after several years of deep thinking and exploring, I feel I have all the necessary resources to start a family. Even more, I am ready.

As a parent, I will encourage my child to be curious---one who asks many questions (including the same one over and over sometimes!) and together, we will have fun learning and doing. From play groups to interactive children’s museums and theater, to local hikes (stopping to visit with the bugs and critters of interest) to visiting a planetarium or local farm, we’ll be a family of explorers. And just as I enjoy learning about different cultures through travel and volunteer experiences, our family will join others and engage in meaningful activities that connect us to the community we live in. I look forward to creating a loving home that embraces respect, compassion, laughter, playfulness and imagination so that my child creates their very own sense of self; shining like a ray of sunshine, not only in my eyes but when they walk into a room. It is my hope that he or she will have the confidence to dream and, later on in life, to realize those dreams.

I feel fortunate to be surrounded by friends who are really great parents. I love spending time with their children and learning the many approaches to parenting. I plan to be there full-time in the early part of my child’s life and have easy access to quality daycare and pre-school programs when it is time for greater socialization. My home is in a family-friendly neighborhood in Seattle where I walk to work, the grocery store, and even my favorite breakfast spot on the weekends! I also have a lovely condo in Washington, DC, where I lived for 14 years, and find it to be a home away from home close to so many national and cultural treasures, including wonderful friends!

I look forward to learning about you, your path and your own dreams, as well as sharing more about me--- from my positive experience with adoption to my very wish, readiness and commitment to be a mom, including all the love and comforts of two rolled into one! Wishing you the best and hoping our paths may cross…

Leslie

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

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