I love to hear the experiences of people who are involved in the world of adoption. This week I will be interviewing people who are adopting (or who have adopted) from countries in Africa.
This interview was with Sue Richardson of Bloomington, MN. Sue and her husband are in the process of adopting a sibling group from Liberia.
Me: Please introduce yourself.
SR: My name is Sue Richardson, I am married to Scott Richardson. We have been married for 5 years and have a 2 year old daughter named Annie. I am a television news reporter. My husband runs the health club we own together.
Me: What made you decide to adopt?
SR: When I was a junior in college I went on a program called Semester at Sea. We stopped in South Africa and Kenya on this trip. I fell in love with the African children, but my heart was broken at their living conditions. At that moment I said, “I will adopt someday, there are so many children in the world without homes, there is no reason to bring more into the world”. Before I married my husband, I told him of my dream. He agreed and it then became our dream. Scott really wanted a biological child though so we agreed to have one (thank goodness, Annie is the star in our lives) and then move toward adoption in Africa.
Me: Why did you choose international adoption?
SR: I really wanted to adopt from Africa after being there. I also wanted to have a multi-cultural family. Also, I know people say, “why don’t you adopt children in the U.S.” There are many programs in the U.S. to help orphaned children. They will be fed. There is no guarantee of that in Africa.
Me: What country are you adopting from and why did you choose that country?
SR: We are adopting from Liberia. We choose Liberia because we were asking for children a little older and we thought it would be helpful if they already spoke English. Also, the 14 year civil war there has caused so many of the children to become orphans.
Me: Where are you in the adoption process?
SR: We are on the edge of our seats waiting for a referral. We hope to have it by the end of the year. We can’t wait to know who our children will be.
Me: What was the reaction of your family/close friends when you decided to adopt?
SR: Most people initially thought it was great. I know my family was worried about us getting two children instead of just one. Then the questions came like, so where will they sleep? How dark will they be?
Me: How have you handled the adoption wait?
SR: We did really well until the last month or two. The closer we get, the tougher it is. I’m now looking at plane tickets just to feel like I’m doing something. The wait is the hardest part. I pray for my kids everyday even though I don’t know who they are.
Me: What advice do you have for other adoptive parents who are in process?
SR: Plan on two years, if its shorter, you’ll be pleasantly surprised!! That includes getting all your paperwork together. It took us 6 months just to complete our dossier.
Me: Thank you so much, Sue, for being willing to let us share in your adoption journey. Good luck as you wait for your referral!
Related Articles:
Spotlight on African Adoptions
Adopting From Liberia