Together for 13 years and married for almost 11, they are the parents to eight-year-old Nadia. For both, the idea of adoption — the process of which they started in 2017 — was an important one, even prior to their meeting. “I always said that if I didn’t meet somebody I was going to adopt.
Whether I believed that myself or not I don’t know, but I met Jill and here we are,” explains Sharon. “I was the same. Since I was young I always wanted to adopt,” agrees Jill.
“Then I met Sharon and that was it. We thought about it, and then we talked about it, and then we kind of forgot about it, and then we talked about it again and that was it.” The couple attended a training event, providing background as to what adoption would entail, and connected with their social worker “right away”.
Both knew it was something they wanted to pursue. Then began background checks, family history and so on. They describe the nine months as being “so busy” thanks to social worker meetings, talks and training.
“Because you’re gearing up for panel to get approved,” says Jill. “I paced the floor. It was nerve-wracking, because you’re in a room with a table full of people,” says Sharon.
“Your social worker is with you, supporting you. Then we were approved. That was in November 2017.
We didn’t know how long it would be before we got someone.” By March the next year, the couple, who both work for Dry Arch Children’s Centre, were welcoming two-and-a-half-year-o.
