Issue link: https://fredparent.uberflip.com/i/1180426
6 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • November 2019 PUBLISHER Leigh Anne Van Doren Tabitha & Jamie Nelle's mom EDITOR Chris Jones Quincy, Hayden & Olive's dad MEDIA & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Megan Walsh: Mia, Noelle, and Adelaide's mom DESIGN & PRODUCTION Cheryl Carter, President, Carter Creations Alex, Kate & Jackie's mom WEBMASTER Karen Charney: Joshua & Spencer's mom, and Abby's mother-in-law SOCIAL MEDIA AND MARKETING MANAGER Lovedy Carroll: Meredith's mom CALENDAR & COOL THINGS TO DO ELETTER Leigha Pecher: Jake and Luke's mom EDUCATION AND INFANT ELETTERS Debra Caffrey: Aidan's mom parent fredericksburg & family Entrepreneur of the Year PROUD FOUNDING MEMBER ADVERTISING PHONE 540-429-3572 EMAIL leighanne@fredericksburgparent.net CALENDAR & SOCIAL MEDIA E-MAIL webmaster@fredericksburgparent.net EDITORIAL PHONE 540-429-3572 E-MAIL fredparenteditor@gmail.com SNAIL MAIL P.O. Box 7884, F'burg, VA 22404 www.fredericksburgparent.net The publishers reserve the right to reject any advertisement, editorial or listing that does not meet the publication's stan- dards. No part of this magazine may be reproduced with out permission. Listing and advertising rates are available upon request. Every effort has been made to assure the accuracy of the information con- tained herein, however, the publisher cannot guarantee such accuracy. Listings and advertisements are sub- ject to typographical errors, ommissions and/or change without notice. For terms and conditions please visit our website at www.fredericksburgparent.net © Copyright 2019 Nurture, Inc. All rights reserved. LIKE facebook.com/ FredericksburgParent SIGN UP www.FredParent.net TWEET twitter.com/fredparent PIN www.pinterest.com/ fredparent FOLLOW @fredparentmagazine November is National Adoption Awareness Month. I'm a product of family adoption. My grandparents added me into their fold when I was close to 4 years old. My moth- er, who was a single mother, intended to enlist in the military and thus gave custody of me to my grandparents. When she changed her mind and didn't enlist, they were too attached to give me back. Like most kids who realize they weren't raised by their biological parents, I sometimes wondered as I got older what it would have been like to grow up with my mother, stepfather, brother and sister. I always come back to knowing that this was the design for my life, and I am beyond grateful to have been raised by my grandparents. Parents are the people who love you whether by genetics or choice. I think its extra special when a child is chosen by a set of parents. That's a sort of love that not every person has within them. Both my grandmother and mother adopted and fostered children. One of the unfortunate realities we face in Virginia is we're annually ranked one of the top states for income production and economic stability and one of the worst for child adoption—49th out of 50, according to data collected by the Children's Home Society of Virginia. It's mind blowing. Adoptions may not be right for everyone, but maybe fostering is your jam. Being that adoption and foster care were an integral part of my upbringing, it's something I've long considered. In this issue, we talked to families who have chosen to adopt children. It's not an easy path, but when you have a big heart with a lot of love to give, it's a natural path. And if you've got a story about your experience with adoption and foster care, I'd love to hear from you. WRITTEN BY CHRIS JONES letter to readers "...this was the design for my life." Celebrating National Month ADOPTION AWARENESS