After years of hoping for a family, my wife and I chose adoption as the path that would finally make us parents. The training, approval, and matching process was long, challenging, and emotionally demanding, forcing us to reflect on the kind of parents we wanted to be.

Our sons came to us at a very young age, bringing with them uncertainty and a need for steady care and reassurance. Adoption doesn’t erase the challenges of their early experiences, but it does give us the opportunity to help them feel safe, supported, and understood as they grow.

Parenting them has been joyful, but it has also been hard work. We are learning every day, striving to be the best role models we can be. As a father, I have sometimes struggled with how to provide a strong and positive male presence, especially on the difficult days.

Yet these challenges are not unique to adoption. Every parent faces moments of doubt, exhaustion, and the weight of responsibility. What sustains us is love: the small victories, the moments of connection, and the knowledge that, despite the struggles, we are building the family we longed for so many years.