Carmen is no stranger to BraveLove. She first reached out to us in 2017. We were able to film Carmen and her mother in 2018, and we caught up with her again in 2020. We love hearing from our friends and following along through the different seasons of their lives.
Recently, we reached out to Carmen to see how things were going and do a quick check-in—and she was kind enough to share an update with us. We’re excited to fill you in, too.
Q: What does your life look like these days?
A: My life looks a little different than it did last time we spoke. I have moved up in my company and now oversee several projects at my job. This has kept me very busy, but I love it!
Q: What does a pretty typical day look like for you now?
A: Architects don't have typical days, each day can be very different from the one before. Keeps me from getting bored! Some days I'm out on job site answering contractor questions. Other days I'm in meetings with the Owners and their staff working on needs for a new facility. Unfortunately there are other days when I feel like all I do is answer emails all day!
Q: What are some things in your life right now that bring you a lot of joy?
A: My husband brings me so much joy, we love going on fun adventures together to National Parks, and simple things like cooking or playing games together. We also enjoy hanging out with our niece and nephews.
Q: When you’re not working or taking care of responsibilities, what do you love spending your time doing?
A: Whenever I get some spare time, I love to read. Other things I enjoy is leather work. My current project is a purse / tote bag. When I'm feeling up to some creative play time, I'll go into our shop and work on it for a while.
Q: How do you think about your birth mother experience today — how does it fit into your life now?
A: I'm glad you asked! My husband and I are in the process of growing our family through adoption. How I feel about my birth mom experience has remained mostly the same over the years. I know I made the right decision to place my son for adoption, even though it is still hard emotionally. Especially while going through the adoption process as an adoptive mom.
Q: How do you feel this journey has shaped who you are today?
A: This journey has given me a resilience to preserve even when things get hard. Its also been a motivation to me to be the best I can be.
Q: What’s something you wish people understood better about birth mothers?
A: I wish people understood that birth moms didn't place their babies because they were unwanted. They were placed with a plan and love.
If you have shared your story in the past with BraveLove, we would love to hear from you! Reach out to ashley@bravelove.org to catch up!
