"Everyone impacted by adoption needs a strong community of love and support!" - Wynter #BraveLove

"The biggest lesson of the last few years is that fear is a thief! " - Tamra #BraveLove

"It is out of LOVE an adoption plan is made." - Gerrianne #BraveLove

I have been a birth mom for 21 years and navigating what that journey looks like ever since. For a season, I didn’t share my journey, it was mine, and honestly, it was very personal. I didn’t want to invite anyone else into it; kind of like a kid with candy! I wanted to keep all the good stuff for myself.

I placed my daughter for adoption in 1996 when I was just 17 years old. During my pregnancy, I struggled with my adoption plan, but one look at her perfection, and the doubt was gone! She was perfect and deserved so much more than I was equipped to provide.

Of course, when I think about things for any length of time, I tend to see them in view of adoption. There is no moment in life that I can think of where joy and grief are more present (in an all-out battle, if you will) than during an adoption.

"This wasn’t a moment to be selfish, it was a moment to be realistic about this child’s future." - Shelbi, birth mom, #BraveLove

"As a birth mom, I am forever grateful for my daughter's mother..." - Charity, birth mom, #BraveLove

There are times I need another person in the room to just know. There is something holy about community. To have your people who know you and get you and give you a space to be and think and speak. It’s a lot of ands. There’s not just one benefit but many.

This letter is intended to reach birth mothers who don’t quite understand their emotions yet of a new placement or even an old one.