How Adoption Has Changed My Life: Parent Perspectives
For children lingering in foster care, becoming part of a permanent family changes everything — their perspectives, their day-to-day experiences, even their views of themselves. But the impact of having that stability and support doesn’t stop there. Adoption is life changing for the families who open their hearts to welcome a child home, too.
Hear from parents who adopted with help from the Foundation’s Wendy’s Wonderful Kids® program about how parenthood has changed their lives ❤️
“When we met Merriah, she was so much more just vibrant and awesome than any piece of paper could have described … One of the best parts about being her parent is seeing her really become her true self. — Emilie (Merriah’s mom)
“Seeing the boys together on Christmas morning just melted my heart, and I knew that I needed to keep them together. I’ve always wanted to be a dad. It’s been a dream that I’ve had for most of my life, and to have it come true is just a godsend.” — Sean (Christian and Brody’s dad)
“I still look at her, and I’m just in awe. She’s so much the same kid, but she’s such a different kid all at the same time.” — Marissa (Em’s mom)
“Just being able to share your day … your ups and downs and your smiles and laughter together.” — Mark (Levie and Athanial’s dad)
“Pippa is warm and sunshine. She just beams. She radiates happiness and love.” — Crystal (Pippa’s mom)
“Sean is everybody’s friend. He’s got that smile that just lights up a room.” — Dave (Sean’s dad)
“He is absolutely hands down the greatest gift I was ever given. He brings more joy, more love, than any person I have ever met.”— Robbin (Dawson and Dalton’s mom)
“Our end goal is for them to have a forever home. Adoption for me is having a chosen family that you can rely on and trust and get to grow with.”— Adrian (Isaiah, Jordan and Sophia’s dad)
“You get to enter into someone’s life in a really impactful and pivotal way.” — Brittany (Kyleigh’s mom)
“They have brought so much joy … it’s changed my life now that I have them. I love it.” — Delon (Michael, Liam and Nathan’s dad)
“He’s my son, and I love him, and he’s an amazing kid.” — Jessica (CJ’s mom)
If you or someone you know is interested in adoption, including adoption from foster care, our free step-by-step guide is a great place to start. It includes information about the different types of adoption, frequently asked questions and a variety of resources to support your journey.
