- Wisconsin -
I am a single female business owner from the mid-west. I graduated in the top 10 in my HS class and earned a bachelor degree from a Big10 school. I enjoy cooking, sewing and crafts, reading, swimming and playing with my dogs. I play a mean game of pinochle and love making fun cakes for birthdays!
Motherhood has been something I have wanted for as long as I can remember. Although I have been successful in my life, I’ve always known the puzzle piece of being a mom was missing from completing the picture. After watching a close friend adopt two children, I knew adoption was the path I wanted to take. I know opening my heart and home to a child will be the most rewarding and challenging experience of my life.
I believe family is forever, regardless of how it is built. I was married for 17 years but am now divorced. I have maintained a relationship with my ex-in-laws because I don’t believe family breaks apart just because a marriage isn’t working. Whether you are wanting an open, semi-open or closed adoption, I view adoption as the joining of two families and will honor the unique relationship between a birth parent, an adoptive parent and the child they both love.
Here is a link to a video featuring my family and talking about adoption! https://youtu.be/h2-KuZDQD7Y
I believe raising a child is the toughest job on the planet. Instilling values and morals so that child will grow to be a good human. A responsible adult who works hard, loves deeply, knows how to have fun and treats everyone with respect.
I follow the Montessori theory which at its core is about respect for each child. Letting them learn through play and activities; working at their own pace and allowing them the space to problem solve and achieve goals. I believe in keeping your word, learning to be honest and trying your very best. I also believe in consequences (age appropriate), and I feel experiencing consequences is a major factor in learning.
In our world today there is an extreme lack of respect. I will teach the importance of having and showing respect – to your peers, to adults, to authorities. School is important and getting a good education is a pathway to success. I don’t expect perfection, but I do expect effort.
Most importantly, I will raise a child with love. Unlimited, unconditional love. Love of self, love of family and the ability to show love to others is one of the most important things I feel a parent must teach their child.
I was born in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, moving to Wisconsin when I was in 6th grade. In high school I enjoyed singing, playing in the band and participating in athletics. I worked as a lifeguard and swimming instructor all through high school and college. I married my high school boyfriend after graduating from college and we settled down in Madison. I started working for a promotional marketing company as a sales assistant; 16 years later I worked my way up to being president of the company with over 70 employees. I had always to own my own company, so I left my secure job and rolled the dice on being an entrepreneur. I am the proud aunt to two nieces and one nephew. I count myself lucky to have two wonderful siblings and many friends that I love dearly. I enjoy volunteering my time for a worthy organization that supports kids in need in our community and I religiously donate blood several times a year. One of my favorite hobbies is making fun birthday cakes for family and friends. Last year I made my sister a sloth cake that turned out so cute, each cake takes me about 10-15 hours to create. I've had no formal training, I just think it's fun to experiment! I am a planner, I love a good spreadsheet and the more data I can collect the better. I also love playing games, tossing the ball for my dogs and goofing around with the kids in my life. Put on a fun 80's or 90's movie and I'm crashing on the couch with a bowl of popcorn and a glass of milk (my favorite beverage). I know I will be a good mom. I am patient, I enjoy teaching but just as much I like sitting back and watching. I have been interviewed and approved to adopt a child with special needs. I am fortunate to live in a community that has a world class children's hospital and many wonderful services in occupational, physical and speech therapies. Whether I adopt a neuro-typical child or a child with special needs, that child will be loved with everything I have.
I live in a small community about 20 minutes away from a major city. Our village is small and friendly, where people stop to say hello. My home was built in 1868 and has amazing character. It is built of limestone and sits on a 3/4 acre lot with lots of trees and a large fenced in yard. My neighbors are generous people and we keep that sense of community. Just down the street from my home is the village center where there are concerts, art exhibits and events happening almost every weekend in the summer.
The city has a beautiful zoo, an engaging children’s museum and our state capitol. There are cultural learning centers and a large university. I really feel I have the best of both worlds. At home we can see the stars from our back yard, we have room to stretch and can hear the frogs at night, but right down the road is a bigger city with all that bigger cities have to offer.
I have a sweet nursery set up that is gender neutral. I believe in being frugal so most of the nursery furniture came from facebook marketplace. There is a fun rug on the floor that is a town scene with big roads where kids can play with cars and trucks and use their imagination. In the corner is a rocking chair that was my grandmothers. I think of her every time I sit in it. The dresser in the opposite corner belonged to my dad when he was just a boy. There are lots of books that we will start reading every night before bed. On the wall are two paintings, one done by my mother and the other done by my mother-in-law (somehow both future grandma’s were blessed with the ability to paint!). While the nursery is wonderful, I actually have a space set up in my bedroom with a crib that I intend to use for night time sleeping for the first 6+ months.
This picture isn’t the best but it shows the rug that I just love and think will be so fun for play!
I have 3 furry family members!
Abby is a miniature bernadoodle (Bernese Mountain Dog/Poodle mix). She is 6 years old, weighs about 25lbs and is a social butterfly. She loves people and even more, loves sitting on laps.
Cooper is a Bernese Mountain Dog. He is 4 years old, weighs about 90lbs and is the biggest scardy cat ever! He thinks he is a lap dog, loves when you rub his ears and is excellent at playing fetch.
Abby and Cooper both go to work with me every day.
Jeeves is a cat who thinks he is a dog. He is around 9 years old (I’m not exactly sure but I’ve had him for 5 years). He comes when called, loves to play in the fenced in yard and will do just about anything for a treat. He greets us at the door every time we come home from work.
In this picture all three were cuddled up in bed together – from left to right – Cooper, Abby, Jeeves
I am the oldest of three children. My sister is married and has a daughter. My brother is a fantastic uncle and lives with his long-time girlfriend. My mother is the kindest person I’ve ever met, she loves painting, sewing and baking. My father passed away when I was only one. My mother remarried when I was five and they are still together today, he is a kind, caring and generous man. While my brother lives several states away, the rest of my family and in-laws all live within a couple hours and we see each other often.
A couple of years ago my step-father asked if he could adopt me. Even though he raised me and we always considered each other family, he wanted to make it official. so as an adult, I was adopted by my dad. I changed my last name to be a blend of my biological father and adoptive father so they are both represented in my life. This showed me that adoption can be a beautiful thing at any age.
I was married for several years, and although I am now divorced, I am a firm believer that family is forever. Keeping a close connection with my in-laws, niece, nephew and even with my ex-husband is of upmost importance to me. They are all excited for the future of our family.
It seems to me that so many of the hopeful adoptive parent stories are very similar, so I would like to take this opportunity to make some promises to you if you choose me as part of your adoption plan.
I promise to love our child more than I’ve ever loved before.
I promise to raise our child to be a good person, with morals and a sense of right and wrong.
I promise to set boundaries and teach him or her how to face challenges head on.
I promise to let him or her fly but to always know they have a safe home to return to.
I promise to let them be who they are, without judgment.
I can only try to understand the heartache you are going through as you try to decide what is right for you and your child. I hope I’ve shown that I believe family is forever. I hope you will want to remain a part of your child’s life and that together we can define what that means, but either way, he or she will know who you are. You are giving the wonderful gift of life and you are making decisions from a place of unconditional love.
Whatever your decision, I wish you the very best.
Shannon