The “Little Moments” Created By Family
Parenthood has a way of blurring the passage of time. Since Megan adopted her son Tommy from foster care last year, their days together have felt both full and unhurried. “It feels like we’ve been together for no time at all and like we’ve been together for 10 years, at the same time,” Megan reflects.
Together, they’ve spent their days at baseball games and the zoo, and cozy nights watching “The Masked Singer.” Meanwhile, Tommy has grown up in what has felt like an instant, checking off milestones like learning to ride his bike without training wheels and blowing out the candles for his fifth birthday.
“He’s come such a long way, and it’s been amazing to see,” Megan says. “Not only has he gotten much stronger physically, but he’s become so much more confident. He’s truly the bravest and most resilient person I know.”
Before their first day together, the lead-up to Tommy’s adoption seemed to unfold in slow motion. “Even though it was a quick matching process, every moment leading up to Tommy’s placement felt stretched out,” Megan recalls. “When you’re waiting for an adoption placement, even just a few days can feel endless.”
When Megan realized she was ready to build her family through adoption, foster care adoption felt like a natural choice. As a pediatrician, she works frequently with children in the foster care system and has seen firsthand the difference a stable, loving home can make. When she was ready to become a parent, she turned to Boys & Girls Aid, because of the agency’s 140 years of experience in foster care adoption.
“Choosing to adopt through Boys & Girls Aid was an easy decision,” Megan says. “I heard so many positive stories from other families who adopted through the agency, and as I talked with people in my community, I discovered that multiple generations of my neighbors had adopted or been adopted through them as well.”
As Megan navigated the adoption process, Boys & Girls Aid was there as a source of guidance and reassurance. “The process could feel daunting, and it wasn’t anything like I expected,” she recalls. “But I was able to navigate it confidently because of all the support I received.”
The agency connected Megan with Leah, a dedicated adoption clinician who offered individualized assistance at every turn. “I was so grateful to always have someone there to answer my questions or point me to resources,” Megan says. “I really don’t think I could’ve done it without her.”
Leah also helped Megan manage the stress of anticipation, reminding her she wasn’t alone in the process of waiting for a placement. “She connected me with a support group for waiting families, which really helped me pace myself and feel part of a community ready to be there for me,” Megan recalls. “I was so grateful to have a team of so many knowledgeable people ready to help.”
“[Tommy’s] come such a long way, and it’s been amazing to see. Not only has he gotten much stronger physically, but he’s become so much more confident. He’s truly the bravest and most resilient person I know.”
After months of preparation, everything suddenly began moving quickly. Once Megan was officially matched with Tommy at a selection committee, the two were given just five days to transition into their new life together. “It was a truly surreal experience to suddenly become family after never having met before,” Megan recalls. “But we were both ready to do everything we could to make it work.”
Megan and Tommy gradually found their rhythm, growing into a family one day at a time. As they settled into routines and began to trust one another, old fears started to fade. Still, like many children who experience trauma and instability early in life, Tommy often finds it hard to fully trust that his new life will last.
“It can be challenging for us to go on trips sometimes because he isn’t always comfortable leaving home,” Megan shares. “I always have to reassure him that he always has a place to go home to and that I’m really going to be there forever.”
With Boys & Girls Aid, Megan has a steady team to whom she can turn whenever her family needs support. "Leah has helped — and continues to help — connect me with so many resources that have supported us every step of the way," Megan explains.
Today, Megan and Tommy are continuing to shape a permanent life together built on trust and love — whether they’re giving a public karaoke performance of “I Love Rock & Roll,” saying hello to every dog in the neighborhood, or going on an outdoor adventure. With your generosity, Boys & Girls Aid can continue to help other children like Tommy find lasting family connections and experience the simple, joyful moments that define a happy childhood.
This National Adoption Month, we invite you to uplift families like Megan and Tommy’s with a tax-deductible gift to Boys & Girls Aid. Your donation directly supports the programs and services that make a difference in the lives of children, youth, and families across our community.
