Where my heart goes

Recently I have been reading a book called A Doula's Guide to birth by Ananda Lowe and Rachel Zimmerman. It's fantastic by the way and full of helpful resources. The chapter I just read talked about being a Doula for a client who is going through the process of putting their child up for adoption. This topic had my heart right away.

Most Doula's would say they have certain things they would like to experience in their careers. For some it would be a client having twins, for others it would be a baby who is born in the "Caul" or amniotic sac. For me it would be getting the privilege of working with a mother who is going through the process of putting her child up for adoption.

Some might think I'm naive and couldn't possibly realize how hard that job would be. Those people may be right, because I haven't experienced it yet. So I truly do not know. But I do know how honored I would be to get the chance to make that already extremely hard situation even the slightest bit more bearable. I mean I can't think of a person who could use the extra support more. To be able to focus on that mother,and help her feel confident and supported in her decisions would be so life giving. And who better in this situation then a Doula who can stay unbiased.

If that weren't reason enough to want to work within situations like that, it would also be amazing to get to play some part in supporting the adoptive family as well. The adoptive family is also going through huge life changes, they too could use support during these transitions.

Adoption is something very close to my heart. I first knew I wanted to adopted when I was 20 years old. While living in India for 5 months I learned first hand what it is like to love someone else's child like they are your own flesh and blood. For me this feeling came in the form of a small, spunky 2 year old girl named Kali. I had the privilege of caring for her during the days from monday to friday. Through the way I cared for her she even started calling me mother in her native language, Hindi. Though she lived a life of poverty she had a mother who loved her, and while I was in her life she had two. Till this day I still pray for her and worry about her like any mother would.

I know my experience of loving Kali and the pain of having to leave her doesn't even compare to what birth moms and adoptive parents go through. But it makes me passionate to care for them and support them in anyway I can.