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Brothers

Brothers.  It is one of the most special bonds there is.  And I get a front row seat.  I never thought I’d be ‘just’ a boy-Mom.  I always envisioned a girl in the mix, because, well, I know more about being a girl than I do about being a boy.  But here we are, me and my two princes, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

One of the greatest things I love about being a Mom to boys has not so much to do with their ‘boyness,’ but everything to do with their brotherhood.  The bond these two share is stronger than anything I’ve ever seen.  They are best friends.  They are pals.  They are confidants.  They are soul mates.  They are BROTHERS.  Yes, they argue.  But at the end of they day, they each worship the ground the other walks on.  It is a beautiful thing to not just watch them grow, but to witness their bond get stronger and stronger with each passing year.

So while reading about Harris, Kallen, and Jacob, and seeing them in pictures and videos, I can’t help but be struck by their bond.  By their brotherhood.  The adoration they have for each other is so very apparent.  And that is why it is crucial that these boys, these brothers, stay together.  But that is only possible with a very special family.  A family rooted in Bulgarian culture.  A family who understands that the special, strong bond these boys have with one another may make it more challenging for adoptive parents to permeate.  But we know that family is out there.  And Harris , Kallen, and Jacob are hopeful they are too.

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Madison Adoption Associates is advocating for Harris (10), Kallen (14), and Jacob (11), who are waiting for an adoptive family. They are medically healthy, though do have some delays, likely as a result of their past.  They are very bonded with their foster families, so we are seeking an adoptive family with significant experience in older child adoption and trauma, as a difficult transition could be very possible.  We are also seeking a family with strong ties to Bulgaria and a thorough familiarity with the culture.  Please complete and submit a Prospective Adoptive Parent form if you are interested in learning more about these special brothers.

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How You Can Support Post-Adoption Families and Adoptees

Dear Friend,
What a year it has been! We pray that you and your family have weathered this crazy COVID storm, and that this letter finds you and yours healthy. We surely are living through history, with the pandemic affecting every aspect of life, adoptions included. While many countries are allowing adoptive families to travel, others have not yet reopened, and our hearts break for the families and children waiting to be united. Despite the closures, despite the painful delays, and despite the unknowns, MAA remains dedicated not just to finding families for the children who wait, but supporting those families and children for life, and this is the reason I’m writing to you today.

We know that when an adoptive family finally meets their child, that’s not the end of the journey, it’s just the beginning. Attachment, culture shock, and challenging behaviors of all kinds are the norm for adoptive families, and the uncertainty of the pandemic has only exacerbated the challenges. Prior to the pandemic, we were already busy working behind the scenes to strengthen our post-adoption support for all of our families, and now that work is more needed than ever.

Over the past several years, we have recognized that the face of ‘the adopted child’ is changing. The children in need of adoption are almost all older, medically fragile, and/or sibling groups, all with histories of trauma, and families frequently need support and guidance to successfully emerge as a bonded family. Adriana Chaves initially joined the MAA team as the Hosting Coordinator, but as hosting became impossible this year due to covid, a new purpose emerged. Adriana has her master’s degree in Clinical and Family Psychology, so it was a natural fit for her to step into a new role as MAA’s Post-Adoption Wellness Therapist. She has been running virtual support groups for adoptive parents and adoptees, helping families identify needed resources in their area, and providing one-on-one post-placement support to families going through significant challenges. Additionally, she’s provided cultural education for families in our Colombia program, with 30 families attending her recent webinar on Colombian culture!

The Colombia Kids Group has been a great safe place for our daughter to socialize during these unusual times with kids just like her. She has been able to connect with children that she interacted with at her orphanage and has also been able to talk with other children with similar stories to her. It is a unique, friendly, no pressure group that she looks forward to participating in.

-Michelle, MAA Adoptive Mom

So on this Giving Tuesday, we are reaching out to ask for your help in supporting our mission to bring hope, love, and connection by serving children, individuals, and families in the areas of adoption, foster care, and support services. Thanks to a generous donation this summer, we were able to offer our post-adoption support groups to all families, whether they adopted through MAA or not, but for that work to continue and grow, we need donations to continue too. Visit our new donation page, and when you select “Post-Adoption Services” 100% of your donation will go to our work supporting post-placement families and their children. For those who can, please consider a recurring monthly donation, so we can consistently provide these essential services to any family who needs them!

From the bottom of my heart, and on behalf of adoptive families and children, thank you for your consideration. We are all ‘in this together’, in more respects than one.

Please stay safe and God bless!

Sincerely,
Diana Bramble, MBA, LMSW
Executive Director of Operations

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