A few years ago, my brother mentioned a vacation he was taking for a friend’s 40th birthday. He and his wife were bringing the kids, and our parents were coming along to help. Without hesitation, I invited myself on the trip.
I was genuinely excited for the bonding time, but I also instinctively stepped into the role of extra hands: helping with meals, bedtime routines, and beach supervision. It wasn’t something I felt obligated to do; it felt natural. I love being woven into the everyday rhythm of my family’s life.
Though I am single, I don’t see my family unit as small. I see myself as deeply interconnected with my siblings and their children. I know that my child’s relationship with their cousins will feel more like siblings, full of closeness, support, and shared memories.
I enjoy staying active and engaged in my community. I love working out, cooking, reading, puzzling, and exploring local festivals and events.
Whenever possible, I do these things with family. On many evenings or weekends, you’ll find me at my brother’s house cooking dinner together, squeezing in a Peloton workout with my sister-in-law, or helping with the kids’ bedtime routine. Those small, everyday moments mean so much to me.
We also spend a lot of time on the lake swimming, boating, skiing, or simply enjoying the view. And in my quieter moments, I love getting cozy with a good book or spending hours working on a puzzle.
Sex: Any Gender, including an Ambiguous or Transitioning Gender Child
Ethnicities: Any Race and Ethnicity
Age: Newborn to 6 Months
Total of: 1 to 2 Children or 2 Siblings
Child Care Plan: Family Member Child Care Nanny
We Live In: Grand Rapids Area
Our Faith: Christian
Pets: No Pets
Kids Already: No Children Now
I am incredibly close with my parents and siblings, many of whom live in the Grand Rapids area. I have four brothers and one sister. My two older brothers are my biological siblings, and one is married with three children. My younger brother and youngest siblings, twin brother and sister, were adopted into our family.
My adopted siblings are bi-racial, which meant that conversations about race, belonging, and identity were not abstract in our household, they were real and ongoing. While I do not pretend to fully understand the lived experience of being a person of color, I have grown up in close relationship with people I love who do.
I have seen the importance of representation, community, and listening. Being part of an adoptive family has given me both reverence and realism about what this journey means. It is beautiful and life-giving, and it also requires thoughtfulness, honesty, and humility.
I am so grateful for the family I come from. We are deeply intertwined in one another’s daily lives. When my nephew was born while I was living out of state, I realized quickly that I wanted to be present as my nieces and nephew grew up. Within months, I made the decision to move closer to home. Being their aunt is one of the greatest joys of my life. I love being someone they can rely on for fun, stability, and one-on-one attention.
My child will grow up not only with a mother, but with cousins who feel like siblings, grandparents who are involved and devoted, and a family that shows up.
I currently rent a cozy apartment that I’ve made into a warm and welcoming home. I recently moved back to Michigan and plan to purchase a home once I know what will best support my growing family, whether that’s proximity to loved ones, the right school district, or space to gather indoors and outdoors.
When I buy a home, I plan to choose a diverse and inclusive community. Wherever we live, our home will be filled with love, family gatherings, and food around the table.
I believe education is incredibly important and will prioritize providing my child with a safe, supportive, and enriching educational experience through high school.
I view education beyond high school as a personal decision based on individual strengths and interests. I plan to be financially prepared to support college or other post-secondary paths and will guide and encourage my child while honoring their choices.
I believe discipline is an important part of raising a child, not as punishment, but as teaching. It helps children learn respect, safety, responsibility, and kindness.
I do not believe in physical discipline. As children grow, discipline evolves. For younger children, that might mean timeouts; for older children, it may involve natural consequences or temporary restriction of privileges. In every case, I will pair discipline with conversation and understanding so that it becomes a learning opportunity.
I was raised in a Christian household, attended church weekly, and was active in youth groups. As an adult, my church attendance has been less consistent, but my faith remains important to me.
I currently attend non-denominational services with my family occasionally and hope to find a faith-based community where I can raise my child in love, acceptance, and compassion. My goal is to nurture faith in a way that feels welcoming and supportive.
I have worked in marketing for restaurants and food-related companies since beginning my career in 2010. I truly love working in the food space. Food brings people together, creates memories, and fosters connection, which deeply resonates with me.
As I’ve grown in my career, I’ve gained a strong sense of ownership and accomplishment in my work. I’m grateful that my role also offers flexibility, allowing me to balance professional responsibilities with being a present and engaged mother.
I plan to continue working full-time while raising my child. Immediately after placement, I will take several weeks off to focus fully on bonding and adjusting to our new life together.
When I return to work, I’m fortunate to have a strong support system. My parents and sister are available to help with childcare most days, and I also plan to participate in an in-home nanny share with my cousin, who has young children nearby. My child will grow up surrounded by loving, familiar faces.
I was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. My parents were raised in Michigan and Indiana and come from mostly German heritage. While we don’t actively practice customs tied to our ancestry, our family culture is deeply rooted in meaningful time together, especially around the water.
I grew up very close with my cousins, gathering for every major holiday and spending long weekends at our grandparents’ house as one big, lively family. Some of my favorite memories are summer days on the lake: swimming, boating, skiing, or simply sitting together watching the sunset over the water.
One tradition that means a lot to me began with my mom’s generation: every Christmas Eve, our extended family delivers poinsettias to local low-income housing buildings. It’s a joyful gathering of aunts, uncles, cousins, and children coming together to spread warmth and kindness. That tradition reflects something central to who we are: family, generosity, and showing up for others.
Thank you for taking the time to learn about me and my hopes for my family. I know this is an incredibly personal and emotional decision, and I approach it with deep respect for you.
If I have the honor of becoming your child’s mother, I promise to surround them with love, stability, and a family full of laughter and belonging. I will speak about you with honesty and warmth. Your child will always know they are loved by more than one family.
You are an important part of this story.
I grew up with siblings who were adopted in what was considered “open adoption” in the 1990s. At that time, openness often meant identities were known but contact was limited. I have seen how adoption evolves over time: how children grow into adults who have deeper questions about identity, history, and connection.
Because of that, I approach openness not as an obligation, but as something meaningful and valuable.
In my ideal experience, our child would grow up knowing where they come from, hearing stories about you, and understanding that they are loved by more than one family. I would love a relationship built on mutual respect, communication, and care. Whether that means regular visits, shared milestones, pictures and updates, or something that grows and shifts over time, I am open to building that together.
I believe children thrive when they don’t have to choose between parts of their story. My hope is that our child feels whole: secure in my home and connected to you in a way that feels healthy and supportive.
If our child is of a different racial or cultural background than mine, I will approach that with intention and humility. I have seen within my own family how important it is for a child to see themselves reflected in their community and to have space for honest conversations about identity. I am committed to surrounding our child with diverse relationships, resources, and mentors who affirm who they are.
My dream is not just to raise a child. My dream is to raise a child who feels grounded in their full story.
You are an important part of this story.
I grew up with siblings who were adopted in what was considered “open adoption” in the 1990s. At that time, openness often meant identities were known but contact was limited. I have seen how adoption evolves over time: how children grow into adults who have deeper questions about identity, history, and connection.
Because of that, I approach openness not as an obligation, but as something meaningful and valuable.
In my ideal experience, our child would grow up knowing where they come from, hearing stories about you, and understanding that they are loved by more than one family. I would love a relationship built on mutual respect, communication, and care. Whether that means regular visits, shared milestones, pictures and updates, or something that grows and shifts over time, I am open to building that together.
I believe children thrive when they don’t have to choose between parts of their story. My hope is that our child feels whole: secure in my home and connected to you in a way that feels healthy and supportive.
If our child is of a different racial or cultural background than mine, I will approach that with intention and humility. I have seen within my own family how important it is for a child to see themselves reflected in their community and to have space for honest conversations about identity. I am committed to surrounding our child with diverse relationships, resources, and mentors who affirm who they are.
My dream is not just to raise a child. My dream is to raise a child who feels grounded in their full story.
Just one more thing...You are an important part of this story.
I grew up with siblings who were adopted in what was considered “open adoption” in the 1990s. At that time, openness often meant identities were known but contact was limited. I have seen how adoption evolves over time: how children grow into adults who have deeper questions about identity, history, and connection.
Because of that, I approach openness not as an obligation, but as something meaningful and valuable.
In my ideal experience, our child would grow up knowing where they come from, hearing stories about you, and understanding that they are loved by more than one family. I would love a relationship built on mutual respect, communication, and care. Whether that means regular visits, shared milestones, pictures and updates, or something that grows and shifts over time, I am open to building that together.
I believe children thrive when they don’t have to choose between parts of their story. My hope is that our child feels whole: secure in my home and connected to you in a way that feels healthy and supportive.
If our child is of a different racial or cultural background than mine, I will approach that with intention and humility. I have seen within my own family how important it is for a child to see themselves reflected in their community and to have space for honest conversations about identity. I am committed to surrounding our child with diverse relationships, resources, and mentors who affirm who they are.
My dream is not just to raise a child. My dream is to raise a child who feels grounded in their full story.
