We know we haven’t met you yet, but we think a LOT about you. We wonder about who you are, what you’re like, and where you come from. We reflect on who you might want your child to become, your selflessness and intentionality, and the difficult decisions that come along with adoption. We think about the bond you have with your baby and our responsibility to protect that. We imagine how excited we’ll be to finally meet you and how much you will change all of our lives forever.

We’ve listened to family members who’ve chosen to share through adoption, have adopted, or have been adopted to put ourselves in your shoes. While that’s an impossible feat, it’s been helpful to think through what you might want to know about us and the kind of parents we’ll be. With that, let us be clear: You will always be a part of your child’s life. They’ll always know—and be proud of—who and where they come from. They’ll hear and feel the gratitude we have for you every day. We’ll fiercely protect your child and guarantee them every advantage. They’ll get to explore the world, learn what they’re capable of, and be given the space to be their authentic selves. Most importantly, they will know and appreciate that our love is an extension of your love, that they exist because YOU exist, and that we’re a family not because we chose them but because the two of you chose us.