#Adoption Process

How long did our adoption process take? I have had many requests to share our timeline of events. So here it is. We had our home study 5 months after applying. Then we got approved by CARA (Central Adoption Resource Authority) to adopt 6 months after that. Then once we were approved things went quicker. We accepted her file within a week, visited her a few days later, and after 2 more months received government approval for us to adopt Nisha. We took her into our home and had her in pre-adoptive foster care for 3 months before we got a court date. Then after the adoption was finalized she was officially and legally ours! Our entire process was 17 months from start to finish. Of course, it was long and hard, but she was completely worth it and we couldn't be happier with this sweet little girl in our lives 💕 #adoption #adoptionjourney #adoptionprocess

Our adoption journey. 🤍 Adoption has forever changed our lives. We are grateful every single day for these two beautiful girls. We still can’t believe they are ours. 💕

Part 1: We shared our hopes to adopt in October 2017. We were contacted by several expectant mamas in the months following and nothing seemed to be working out until we got a message on Instagram that would change the rest of our lives… . . . #jojoharris #josiesstory #harrisadoption #reedandkaitlin #hopingtoadopt #waitingtoadopt #adoption #adoptionjourney #blessedbyadoption #adoptionislove #worththewait #lovemakesafamily

Adoption isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s messy. It cost so much. It’s a imperfect solution in a broken world. While one family prays not to loss their child, another family is praying to gain one. My prayer for every mom who has lost a child: May God’s love fill the cracks of your shattered heart. My prayer for every adoptive mom: May YOUR love fill the cracks of a broken system. New here? Follow me @jessicahurlbut for daily inspiration, hope, and challenge. #adoptionjourney #adoption #adoptivemom #adoptiveparents #adoptionislove #fostercare #foster #fosterparenting #adoptivefamily #fostermom #fosterparent #fyp #explorepage

The smile at the end was how I knew. I had been searching the database for 3 months reading file after file. We became pretty methodological about it after a while so we didn’t lose hope or our minds 😅. Then one day sitting at Starbucks in the mall, I found her file. After reading through and chatting with the orphanage, they sent us this video. I was sitting with my fellow boy-mom neighbor when I got the video and we got to remark together how CUTE she was. It’s a weird feeling to get a text message with a video of someone that might be in your life FOREVER 😅. Kind of like online dating in a way. It didn’t come with any audio, so I’m not sure what they were saying to her in the video. But I feel like I got to see her little personality!! If you’re new here, MUCH more of our story can be found in my adoption reels + 2 adoption highlights. It’s National Adoption Month, but I’ll talk about it any day! The more people know about how adoption can be possible (in a world where it seems too complicated), the more children will find families ❤️. Our DM’s are always open! #indiaadoption #AdoptionLove #AdoptionJourney #internationaladoption #domesticadoption #delhimom

Try not to smile while watching this ❤️ Watch her face change after she gets adopted into a loving family 🥰 If even one person watching this video sees the change adoption can make on a child and is inspired to do the same, I consider that a huge win! Children deserve to be in families. Just look at how much it changed this sweet girl's life! #adoption #adoptionjourney #lifechanging #indiaadoption

As an adoptee and a counselor, I want to open up about some truths that are often left out of the adoption conversation.  1- Adoption Is Not Simply a Family-Building Tool     •    Adoption should not be viewed primarily as a way for adults to create a family, but rather as a complex process centered on the needs and rights of the child.     2- Adoption Begins With an Inherent Loss     •    Every adoption starts with the loss of the adoptee’s original family, culture, and identity, which can have lasting emotional effects.     3- Adoptees Are Not Angry—They Are Oppressed     •    The challenges adoptees face are often rooted in systemic oppression and lack of agency, not personal anger.     4- Adoption at Any Age Is Traumatic     •    The separation from birth family, regardless of the child’s age, is a traumatic event that can impact an adoptee’s mental health and development.     5- Family Preservation Should Be Prioritized     •    Whenever possible, efforts should focus on supporting birth families and keeping them together, rather than defaulting to adoption.     6- It’s Okay If Adoptees Aren’t Grateful     •    Adoptees should not be expected to feel gratitude for being adopted; their feelings are valid, whatever they may be.     7- Ethical Reforms and Rights Are Essential     •    Access to original birth certificates should be a legal right for all adoptees. Same-race adoptions and ethical practices should be prioritized to protect adoptees’ identities and well-being. Adoption itself is not inherently wrong, but it must be approached with greater ethical consideration and respect for the adoptee’s needs. I’m not against adoption, but we must do better for adoptees. Let’s keep this conversation honest, supportive, and centered on adoptee voices. #AdopteeVoices #AdoptionEducation #FamilyPreservation #MentalHealthMatters #EthicalAdoption #TraumaInformed #CognitiveCounselor #AdoptionAwareness #CounselorLife #AdopteePerspective

What Is The Right Way To Adopt?

🔆 we are only parents because… 🔆 …THEY were his parents first. There isn’t a day that goes by without us recognizing how we have the biggest honor and privilege by being able to raise Monroe in our home. We are eternally grateful to his first mom & dad for choosing US to parent him. Nothing brings us more joy than knowing Monroe will grow up ALWAYS knowing his biological family. He will always know how loved he is by them. Our mindset is— the more people to love him, the better. 🫶🏻 We are big open adoption advocates over here!!!! & we cannot wait to experience how our relationship will continue to grow and grow! • • • • • #adoption #adoptionjourney #adoptionstory #openadoption #adoptioneducation #hopefuladoptiveparents

From wishing for a family to holding her adoption papers in her hands—this is the beauty of hope fulfilled. ❤️ Congratulations on your forever family, Alexa! #adoption #adopttogether #fostercare

This video was just for us and haven but after seeing how much you all loved our adoption day video, I wanted to share this one too. 🤍 I’ve always captured these moments just for Haven. Some I share, some I keep for us. But it’s the sweetest thing seeing how many people love our girl. @skims @drbrowns @nike @zara @ouraring @newbalance @target

Open adoption: the biggest blessing I never saw coming 💛 #openadoption #domesticadoption #twinsadoption #identicaltwins #twingirls #privateadoption #birthmom #birthfamily #adoption #adoptivefamily #thisisus #adoptionjourney