A Birth Mother’s Letter

This group of women who work in the office are some of the most caring people I know. They are there for women who are going through one of the hardest decisions of their life. I should know, I am one of those women.

When I decided to give my child up for adoption I went to Wyoming Children’s Society and this very nice woman introduced herself to me. She told me a little bit about the program, how it works, what they would need from me and tried to answer a few questions. I left thinking am I nuts to do this to give up my baby.

I went home that night and continued to think and I felt an overwhelming feeling that I could trust this woman that had just come into my life and decided that I should consider this and if I change my mind no one would ever look down on me. I went back a few days later and started the process. Now don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t all done in a day or two. You spend months getting to know these people and they spend months getting to know who you are as well and spend months making sure that you really want to do this. So by the time this all ended they did know I was nuts (but in a good way).

After spending about 6 months off and on talking and meeting with them, calling them after doctors appointments or just with more questions you develop a friendship. After a couple of months Ellen, my mom and I would go to lunch and it wasn’t always about the baby, it was about everything that was going on to see how I was and to see how my mom was with the whole situation. After all of that I would say a friendship and trust developed that will last a life time. These women who work at Wyoming Children’s Society are there for the stupidest and the toughest questions you can think of. They are there to hold you when you cry and they are there when you are so scared and don’t think that anyone understands what you are going though. No, they may not know the part about giving a child up but they do know how to comfort you when you do. After I had my baby and I was in the hospital, Ellen would come up and sit in my room with me just to keep me company. She even brought me ice cream and in my book that puts you at the top. I was honored to be asked to write a letter for them and talk about what they had done for me.

But in some ways I don’t think I can list everything they have done for me, let alone explain in words everything they have done. For those women who would consider giving a child up you would never find a better care from an agency. I am not sure care is a proper word but you would never find an agency that accepts you for more than Wyoming Children’s Society. They will never look down on you or make you feel like you are making the wrong decision. If anything they are going to help make sure you are doing what is best for you not just for your baby. I was lucky enough to work with Ellen and Carol. It’s a toss-up who is more fun to have lunch with. But it is not a toss-up who is more compassionate, caring and understanding, it is equal.

I don’t want people to think that once you have a baby and you sign your rights away you lose contact with them. That is not it. They are still there for you and check on you and care about you and hope you are doing ok. It has been nine years since they came into my life and I still consider myself lucky to have had them to help me with the toughest days of my life. These two women still feel like they are friends and angels. On a last note, Wyoming Children’s Society also put groups together where there are other birth moms and you can meet and talk. This helps you realize on those days that you are totally depressed and feel like you are the only one in the world and no one will know what you are going through that isn’t the case. It is almost like the staff knows that this needed to be put together ad they did it for those birth moms that needed it and find comfort in it. That is just another thing in a long list that Wyoming Children’s Society does that makes you feel comforted

- Felicia