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The signs on Nathan and Taylor’s front door offer visitors a few friendly warnings: “Welcome to the Loud House” and “Caution: Crazy Dogs – Crazier Kids!”
When it comes to adoption, Nathan says, “You have to prepare for, and embrace, the chaos.”
Taylor always wanted to adopt, and felt ready once she started a career in mental health services. Taylor thinks adoption would have been a struggle if she did not have the knowledge that came with her background in mental health services. She credits her experience as a resource for adoption, saying, “We can handle it.”
They encourage others to fight through the bad to get to the good.
Taylor and Nathan met their son, D, at an Indiana Adoption Program Meet & Greet event. D was doing a word search, and was so proud of finding all the words. He had an outgoing personality and a great smile. Taylor and Nathan were D’s seventh placement. “No one had D long enough to know him, and to know how great of a kid he is,” says Taylor.
Taylor and Nathan know from experience that you have to commit to an adoption, and they feel some people give up too soon.
There was not a singular moment where Taylor and Nathan knew they wanted to adopt D. “He just fit in,” they said.
Adjusting to a new family with D took time, though. “We kind of threw Christmas at him,” remembers Taylor, “but he was so excited for a pair of boots. Any gift was like a million dollars.”
Taylor says it is amazing seeing the changes from when they first adopted D to now. They were so excited when they met with D’s teacher and she told them how well D was doing in school.
To those considering adoption, Taylor would encourage others to do it, and to be determined. She says, “It’s not a walk in the park. You have to tough it out, but when you adopt, your life changes.”
Taylor and Nathan also want prospective parents to know how important it is to have a community of support. Having friends who are foster and adoptive parents helps because they can understand the challenges that come with adoption.
D is hopeful, determined, and resilient like his parents. He wants other children in foster care to remain hopeful that they will be adopted by a family. “One day you’ll find one, and they’ll love you forever,” he says.
“Even if they’re sometimes annoying,” D adds, “I still love them.”