National Adoption Awareness Month

The final months of the year bring many occasions to celebrate. The month of November not only consists of Dios Los Muertos, Thanksgiving, and Black Friday, but it also includes National Adoption Day on November 20th. In fact, the entire month of November is National Adoption Awareness month. 

National Adoption Awareness month is used to bring awareness and education to those interested in adoption. Many families and children use this month to advocate, celebrate and recognize that there are many children who are still waiting for forever families. 

Both James and Jennifer Herman, Marshfield natives, had dreamed of growing their own family for over four years, however, they faced difficulty conceiving. It was not until Thanksgiving 2019 that they decided to consider adoption.

“We had been to doctors, testing, surgery, and everything that goes along with infertility. We decided it just wasn’t the path for us anymore,” said Jennifer Herman. “We had been at a family gathering and the holidays can be difficult for people who are struggling with infertility. We had been thinking about adoption for quite awhile and decided lets just take the jump and do this.”

The day after Thanksgiving, Herman started making phone calls to adoption agencies. She communicated with those who had adopted both traditionally and through foster care, and joined an adoption community group on Facebook. In Feb. 2020 the Herman’s connected with their future son Wilder’s birth mother. Wilder was due early summer and the couple planned on driving to Virginia to attend the appointments. Unfortunately, COVID-19 made it impossible, so the Hermans found alternative ways to be a part of the pregnancy. 

“We did video calls during appointments and she sent us pictures and ultrasounds. She allowed us to be a part of the pregnancy and since that's something we probably won't experience, she wanted it to feel like Wilder was ours before he was even born,” said Herman. 

The Hermans traveled to Virginia and on June 1, 2020, Wilder Herman was born. The couple spent two weeks in Virgina waiting for their adoption to be finalized, which gave them plenty of time to test out their parenting skills. The couple also were able to connect with Wilder’s birth family.

Today, the family can be found at the park or spending easy days in their home. The Herman’s  love watching Wilder grow, learn, and meet all of his milestones. The Herman's finally get to  live out their dream of being a family and without the option of adoption, it wouldn’t be possible. 

“Wilder is doing great... Parenting is a lot harder than we ever anticipated it to be, but it is also very rewarding. We are happy to finally get the chance to be parents. I am ready to adopt again, but James may be a little more hesitant,” laughed Herman. “Adoption can be really a complicated, emotional, and difficult thing, but it can also be really beautiful at the same time. It is a sweet way to start a family.”

To find more information about National Adoption Awareness month or how to adopt in the state of Missouri, visit adoptuskids.org.