Anna

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From Me to You

Thank you for reading my letter and viewing this profile. I am honored that you are considering me to parent your child. As you explore your options, I hope you are being heard and feel valued. You deserve all of those things.

Here’s how I arrived on this path for adoption. My life has not panned out as I had expected when I was a little girl. And that’s okay, in fact whose life does? When I was 15, I began working with kids at my community summer program, and it was then that I knew I was destined to work with kids. So, I became a teacher. Thirteen years into my career, I have learned that kids bring out the best of me. They make me laugh at myself and all quirkiness. I know I am destined to have kids of my own. The question became how do I make that happen? After many challenges, adoption became the best option for me.

In all honesty, your choice for who you want to parent your child is not about me, it is about doing what is best for your baby. The relationship that you want to build with me and your child is up to you and I respect that.

You have your own story to tell. As their birth mom, you will always be chapter one in your baby’s life.
I want you to know, if you choose me to parent your child, your baby will be well taken care of in a safe home and loved unconditionally. I love to create memories. As a child, I loved Friday nights because we would make homemade milkshakes and popcorn and watch our favorite shows. It’s such a simple memory, yet one so cherished. Your child will have simple memories like this with me.

I also want you to know what an exceptional addition your baby will be to me and my family. I will do everything in my power to ensure that your baby is happy and healthy. They will enjoy a childhood filled with positive memories that will provide comfort in time of pain. I will help your baby to grow up and be a good human, one who adds goodness to this world.

Love Always
~ Anna

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My Family & Friends

My immediate family consists of my two parents, my sister, brother-in-law, niece, and my Obachan (Japanese for grandmother). My favorite family activities include hiking, going to the beach and playing games. Because I live in California, the weather encourages outdoor activities year round. For example, spending a Saturday at the beach, park, or lake could happen in February. I have a community of friends through my local dance studio. We participate in recitals, social activities, and celebrate personal events together. These friends provide balance and laughter in my life.

In addition to my immediate family, I have two very good friends who will always be present in your baby’s life. Your baby will be lucky to have them in his or her life because they are loving, patient and also educators. As honorary grandparents, my longtime friend and her husband will be in your child’s life as well. They will spend time with your baby roughly 4 to 6 times a year as I take trips to San Francisco. These honorary grandparents have taught me so much about life and myself. I am positive that they will do the same for your baby. There are five men in my life who are incredibly important to me. My dad is an outdoorsman who is always up for a hike. Frankie is an athlete and educator. My brother-in-law, Cooper, is a reptile collector and tennis player. Michael is a gentle soul who is always willing to listen and Joseph is a dancer and competitive dance judge. So your baby will have a variety of men in their lives who will be positive, masculine influences for them.

I am blessed to also have these three women in my life: my mom is always loving and supportive; my sister Grace, a new mom, who will love being an aunt; and Susan who is full of wisdom and is always my biggest cheerleader. Because of all of these people and myself, your child will have a strong support system and community.

My family has always spent a lot of time outdoors. Especially in this community, because we can hike one day and go to the beach the next. I have to admit, I am typically the last one in the trail of hikers. I prefer hiking at my own pace and I beat to my own drum. I love the ocean, so I will spend a lot of future time at the beach, playing in the sand and breathing the ocean air.

Our family tradition is to play games and listen to music during the holidays. We celebrate big events such as birthdays and personal achievements by going to dinner. My Japanese grandmother likes to treat at her favorite Japanese restaurant. Your baby will celebrate his/her big events by becoming a part of this family. Another tradition has been our annual family vacations. For example, one year we rented a houseboat on Lake Powell. We spend time tubing, floating in the lake and exploring memories dear to my heart. Annual vacations are traditions I will continue with your baby. I want your child to have as many amazing memories as I did. All of these experiences have shaped who I am today.

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My Lifestyle

My lifestyle is predictable and simple. Let me explain it in two parts. Part one, Monday through Thursday, I am at school teaching from 7:30 am to 2:45 pm. After work I cook dinner, I love to cook. For relaxation, I read a book or watch TV. On the weekends, it depends on what I have planned. Friday nights I usually spend at my parents’ house, where we talk and share our lives. For example, we have watched all five seasons of “This Is Us” together and we have developed a shared memory through watching that show together.

Saturday and Sunday, I am a homebody, except when I am visiting friends in the Bay Area, about 6 to 7 times a year. I love where I live, I love to spend time in my home, whether that is spending time at the park, or sitting on the patio reading my book.

I love to travel and I have many places I dream to go and can’t wait to share the world with your baby. There is so much to see world and explore. When your baby enters my life, my weekends will be about creating memories. I have amazing friends and family who will spend time with me and will be a part of their life growing up.

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My Home and Neighborhood

I am lucky to live on the Central Coast of California– an ideal place to raise your baby. My neighborhood feels like a community and the town has about 50,000 people. I am about 15 miles from several beaches and surrounded by beautiful hiking trails. Your baby’s grandparents (my parents) are 15 minutes from my home.

My neighborhood is truly a tucked away gem in my county. I am close to everything important to raise your baby: two safe neighborhood parks, good schools, and friends nearby. I have no doubt your baby will love growing up here because I did. As your baby grows older he or she will have a wide range of opportunities and choices of activities such as surfing, sports, drama, dance, and clubs. The choices of activities ensure your child will discover what they love. My community has a feeling of togetherness. Oftentimes I see families walking to the park, because I live in a safe neighborhood.

Your child’s grandparents live on an acre, where your baby will have the opportunity to roam outdoors. They spend the majority of their free time outdoors gardening and working on the property. So, your child will be spending a lot of time in nature.

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About Me

The easiest place to start is what I do for a living. I am a teacher, I teach elementary school. Although I have taught multiple grade levels, 5th grade is my favorite. At this age they are mature enough where they have a sense of humor, where they laugh at themselves and at me, but not too mature where they are too hormonal. I love the curriculum at 5th grade, but my favorite thing about teaching is relationships. I cherish the relationships I build with my students, and I love to watch and see my students develop relationships with each other. For example, I had two students, who said they wanted to go to the same college, be roommates and once graduated they wanted to start and own their own business. I am proud of their big dreams and ambitions. I love the relationships I build with my students, seeing them experience something for the first time, or when a light bulb goes off when they make a connection. I am so fortunate to spend my time and career in this manner.

I love relationships. I am very lucky to have an amazing relationship with my parents. Two people who have shaped the adult I am today, but also shape the adult I will become tomorrow. I am also lucky to have some amazing friends. They help me become a better person. My friends challenge me to be my authentic self.

So, who I am is defined by my relationships. Whether that is relationships with my family, friends, students or, as an avid reader, even the characters in the books I read.

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Why I'm Choosing to Adopt

Family is important to me and I know your baby will enrich my family and our lives. I have dreamed of being a mom for as long as I can remember. This journey is how I can make that dream become a reality. There is a space in my heart that is reserved for a child. I am hoping that your baby is meant to fulfill that space in my heart. To me, being a mom means putting my child’s needs before my own, having someone else’s happiness and safety be a priority. Being a mom means being present, spending time with my child, and being whatever it may be that my child needs. Whether that is someone to hold them while they are fussing because they have gas, someone to hold their hand as they walk to kindergarten, or someone to cheer the loudest at ALL of their life moments, I want to be that person for them. To me, that is what is being a mom and that is why I am choosing to adopt. I cannot wait to be that person for your baby.

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Racial and Cultural Diversity

I understand cultural diversity as I am ½ German, ¼ Japanese and ¼ Irish. I can speak from experience when I say I know what it is like to be a blend of cultures. In my value system, no race is superior to the other. I believe that race, culture and ethnicity all make us unique. There is great value in learning one’s cultural heritage and how it shapes a person’s identity. I am aware that your baby will need to relate with their race and culture.

I am a firm believer that exposure to culture and race can be tactfully done through literature. As a mom, I will find appropriate literature that portrays identity, social values and meaning for your child. I spent the first 10 years of my career working in predominantly Hispanic, Filipino, and African American communities. I remember my first year teaching and recognized that I was the minority and to teach my students, I had to first build a relationship. To build a relationship, I had to get to know and see my students as individuals. This meant that I had to learn about their cultures and what made them unique. It was an amazing experience that shaped who I am.

I spend hundreds of hours creating lessons for teachers to guide students to learn positive relationships within the social structure of the world. Students have a safe place to learn about race, and discuss their views, thoughts, and feelings which can encourage life changes.

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My Relationship with My Parents

I am a very lucky person when it comes to the topic of parents. My parents are still married after 42 years, and that alone is a great accomplishment. I have an exceptional relationship with both of my parents, because we built that foundation when I was a child. I knew my parents had my back and would be my advocate. But, I also knew they had expectations and I was determined to make something of myself. I never questioned whether I was loved, wanted, safe or protected and neither will your baby.

As an adult, my relationship with my parents is still strong. Now, they are the people I go to for help and guidance when needed or comfort when I am having a rough day. As adults we have authentic conversations, because that was the norm in our family. We try to hear everyone’s perspective. I am beyond lucky to have them in my life and your baby will be too.

Looking back, I realize my parents gave me roots of belonging but also freedom to spread my wings, fly on my own and explore the world. I always had a safe place to land. Deep in my heart I believe they will be outstanding grandparents to your baby. We will become a forever family.

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My Traditions

My family has always spent a lot of time outdoors. Especially in this community, because we can hike one day and go to the beach the next. I hope to continue this tradition when your baby is added to our life. I love the ocean, so I intend to spend a lot of future time at the beach, playing in the sand and breathing the ocean air. Our family tradition is to play games and listen to music during the holidays.

We celebrate big events such as birthdays and personal achievements by going to dinner. My Japanese Grandmother likes to treat at her favorite Japanese restaurant, such as when I received my Master’s Degree. Your baby will celebrate his/her big events by becoming a part of this family.

Another tradition was our annual family vacations. My favorite vacation was renting a houseboat on Lake Powell.

These annual vacations are a tradition I plan to continue with your baby.

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My Career

I have always been lucky enough to know what I wanted to do with my life – be a teacher. I am fortunate that what I am naturally good at is something that I also love to do. The best part about my career is that I get to work with kids every day. But, my favorite part is watching the kids grow academically, socially and emotionally.

I love building relationships with my students, and witnessing the relationships they build with one another. I love creating lessons that the students remember forever. For example, this year we have had the pleasure of reading five books as a class. They have had debates regarding which book is their favorite and we have even shared tears when a book had a surprise ending. What a gift for my students, but also how fortunate I am to get to spend my day and career in this manner.

I love planning and doing activities where the goal is to build community or create everlasting memories. For example, we celebrate our end of the year by playing water games and the students have a blast. That day is clearly one of my favorites of the year. As a result of the community we built in my classroom, the students forge long term friendships that extend beyond the classroom.

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My Promise to You

Working as a teacher for 13 years, with 390 students, I painfully discovered that not every child is loved unconditionally. I promise you your baby will be loved unconditionally. To me that means without any strings attached. I want them to know if they make a mistake, they are loved, when they make their own choices, they are loved, when they decide who to love, they will be loved. They will be loved with no strings attached. It is eye opening to witness how many children are loved with conditions attached and how that affects their development, self-confidence and self-worth. If you choose me, be assured your baby will be loved unconditionally.

Your baby will have a solid foundation and wings to be able to fly on their own. I promise that your baby will be my number one priority, because it is my biggest dream to become a mom, and you are making that dream a reality. Therefore I promise I will cherish them every day and will actively be the best mom I can be for your baby. No matter when, or how, know you are a thread in the fabric that will always connect us.

I promise you I will be your baby’s biggest supporter. I will always do what is in their best interest. Your child will have someone in their corner for life.

I promise you that your baby will grow up in a community where they will spend time outdoors and will be surrounded by friends and family who love them dearly.

I promise you I will do everything in my power to have your baby build a life that is filled with love and will grow up learning how to be a good human, because your baby will be a member of society someday. I want you to be hopeful of who they will become.