Change is hard. At times it may seem almost impossible. When I found out I was pregnant, I was 19 years old and not married. I knew I was heading down a path that would not lead to happiness. Being a single parent wasn’t what I had in mind for my future, but my decisions had quickly put me on that path. I made the most important decision to place my baby for adoption. This decision was, by far, the most difficult. This would be life-altering. However, it was the best decision and brought on the lasting change I needed.
When I held my precious little butterfly in my arms, I knew things were going to change. I knew I wanted to change. I wanted to be something better, something she could look up to. I wanted to be more. I knew at that time that I could not offer her the life I felt she deserved. I also knew I wanted to become the best birth mother and role model for her in the future.
After placement I started making serious changes, not only in the decisions I was making but also where I spent my free time. I kept my little butterfly in my mind. With every step that I took, I would say to myself “would this decision make her proud?” In doing so, I became a more confident and happy person.
Shortly after placement, I started reaching out to other birth mothers and educating people on adoption. I placed 11 years ago, and back then there wasn’t a lot of positive talk about adoption. There weren’t a lot of adoption advocates. I also believe there was a stereotype on what a birth mother was or was not. I wanted to change that stereotype.
I sought out opportunities to show people that birth mothers are all around you. They may be your neighbor, your friend, your cousin, without you even knowing. I wanted to make a change in the way people thought about adoption and birth mothers. It has been a long road, but I truly believe adoption has come a long way. The doors are open, and more people are being educated on how beautiful adoption can be. I am proud that I made a change in my life– a lasting change– and feel I am becoming someone my little butterfly will be proud of.
One thing I am most proud of is starting a non-profit organization called Birth Mother Baskets (BMB). We deliver gift baskets to birth mothers who have recently placed their baby for adoption. These baskets are full of pampering items just for the birth mom. We deliver these baskets all around the United States. I am very passionate about BMB and how far we have come since we started almost nine years ago. I truly believe this is my calling in life: to help and serve other birth mothers. I am grateful for the changes I made after I found out I was pregnant. I can’t imagine not being a birth mother. I can’t imagine not having adoption in my life. Change can be hard, but I will never regret the many changes I made to get me to this path I am on now. Adoption has blessed my life and taught me more then I could have ever imagined!
Gina Crotts Founder of BirthMotherBaskets
