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Two View Points Here we have two stories interwoven. Joanne writes how she made an adoption plan through Beginnings and placed her daughter in an open adoption with Greg and Cherie. Greg and Cherie tell their side of the story— their journey into open adoption and how it has worked out for their family. |
J: I will never forget the moment I found out I was pregnant. I was 36 years old and newly single and the last thing I ever expected was the positive sign on the home pregnancy test. At the time all I could see were the negative effects this would have on my life. I was terrified to say the least. I could never raise a child, not with my small income and chronic headaches. What was I going to do?
Then I saw my baby for the first time in an ultrasound when I was nine weeks pregnant…and it changed everything. Now it was all about this little baby and what was best for this new life. I now saw it as such an honour and blessing to bring this new life into the world. I still didn’t think I could raise the child so a good friend of mine mentioned Beginnings to me and that was the start of my adoption plan. G&C: We have been abundantly blessed by being able to adopt two beautiful children through Beginnings. Our adoption journey began in January 2004 when we had the privilege of meeting with our social worker, Kerry Vandergrift. It was through Kerry that we were introduced to Beginnings. J: Although I jumped at the idea of adoption; the best advice I received from Beginnings was to take three weeks and treat my situation as if I were raising the child myself. This idea absolutely petrified me and unfortunately I reacted badly towards this plan. (I still owe an apology to my birth counsellor.) But, I did force myself to face my fears eventually. I worked through all the details: went to the social agencies to see what help there was, spoke to my doctors about what the future might hold for me, concerning my chronic migraines, and spoke to many parents to learn what childrearing was really like. After all this I realized that adoption was still the best plan, but now instead of approaching it from a position of fear, I met it with logic and an immense love for my child. I wanted the very best for my baby and I knew that I was not able to provide the best. So, I was at peace with the knowledge that I was making the right decision. |
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© 2009 Beginnings Counselling & Adoption Services of Ontario Inc.
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