She Didn’t Know Open Adoption Was an Option. Now She Can’t Imagine It Any Other Way.
Not just safe in the immediate sense. Safe in the way Candice herself hadn’t always been.
“I wanted her to be able to live a better life than me,” she said. “I wanted her to be protected more than I had been.”
“I wanted her to be able to live a better life than me.”
That conversation changed everything. Candice moved forward with an open adoption. Today, her daughter Layla is three years old, sees Candice four times a year, and attends birthday parties with both of her families. The adoptive parents – Monica and Brandon – describe Candice simply: “She makes it easy. She’s wonderful.”
Candice’s own life looks different now, too. She moved to a larger city, built stability, and found her footing. The path that felt impossible turned out to be the one that led forward.
“I’m just really glad that this brought me a lot of hope,” she said. “And that’s something I was really struggling with – seeing hope for my future.”
She’s honest about it not being simple. There are moments she misses the everyday. But when she thinks about Layla’s life – the family she has, the love surrounding her – her certainty holds.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
If you’re considering adoption and want to talk through what openness might look like for you, we’re here. Call or text (913) 271-3554