Waiting Families Database

Dear Birthparent,

Hi! Our names are Jim and Susan. We have been happily married for over six years. We started our family with the adoption of our son Carl over four years ago and our other son Samuel over two years ago. We now are looking to expand our family so Carl (1/2 Hispanic, 1/4 African-American and 1/4 white) and Samuel (African-American) can have another sibling. Because of the difficult decisions that birthparents like yourselves make, we are able to consider extending our family through adoption. We thank you for this.

We have a strong and supportive marriage based on open communication, mutual respect, and trust. We are both in our early forties. Our family values include fairness, tolerance of differences, honesty, and an ability to express love. Education is also important to us and we strive to create a nurturing environment for Carl, Samuel, and our future children where they can develop their strengths, talents, and creativity. We understand the unique challenges that face families with multiracial children and feel it is important for Carl, Samuel, and our future children to share their experiences with siblings of similar backgrounds.

Our neighborhood is located on a quiet street near three parks. We enjoy taking Carl and Samuel on outings to these parks. Our neighborhood has many families with young children and is multicultural and accepting of many different racial and ethnic backgrounds. This has provided Carl and Samuel with a nurturing environment that produces positive experiences for them.

Jim is a college professor who engages in both research and teaching. He loves working with young people---being able to spark their interest in science and guide their development as scholars. Susan works part-time for the federal government in creating national policy. She enjoys her contributions toward making air travel safer for everyone.

We enjoy spending time with our extended family. Susan has four brothers and sisters and Jim has one brother. In total, we have ten nieces and nephews ranging in age from newborn to twenty. Since we meet often for holidays and family events, our children have many cousins to play with and learn from. We also have a pet cockatiel, named Major, who provides us with much joy. Carl and Samuel love to interact with Major.

We believe it is important to share as much information as practical. The more that is shared between the birthparents and the adoptive parents the more beneficial it is to the child. We recognize that our gaining a child is due to the birthparents loss; hence, we are happy to include updates on the progress of the child so you can see how your decision is progressing.

Warmest regards,
Jim, Susan, Carl and Samuel