No More Someday (Editor's Letter)
Little Rock Family Editor Alexis Crowe with her husband, Tyler (center), and Tyler's parents, Marsha and Mike Crowe.
We all have a soft spot for something. An experience or personal connection leads many people to a cause they are particularly passionate about.
My soft spot has always been for children without families to call their own. Adoption and foster care tug at my heartstrings and have for as long as I can remember. Growing up, there were families at my church who adopted kids and I remember thinking, I want to do that someday. Which is one reason I was so excited to do a foster and adoption-themed issue of Little Rock Family.
But as I worked on this issue, I thought about how easy it is to be the “I want to do that someday” kind of person. Maybe adopting sounds good in theory, but you hesitate on acting until the timing is perfect — so if the perfect moment never comes, you’re just left saying “someday” until it’s too late.
When I interviewed Logan and Christy Carpenter for the cover story, I teared up several times as they told their story. Rather than hesitate, they dove head first into becoming foster and adoptive parents. And now, they can’t imagine their lives any other way.
One of the statistics I learned this month that surprised me most is that six in 10 Americans have had personal experience with adoption. That’s more than half of the U.S. population — and I’m blessed to be part of that majority.
My husband, Tyler, was adopted as an infant because his parents were bold enough to take that step. They put any fears they may have had aside and made the choice to grow their family and love a child who was not biologically their own.
Now, we scratch our heads and laugh when people say Tyler looks like his brother and when we take a family photo, Tyler stands a good six inches taller than his dad. But none of that matters — and I’m so glad his parents didn’t just say “someday.”
I hope that, for some of you, the stories and statistics in this issue push you to take a first step and stop waiting for the perfect time. There are so many wonderful organizations right here in central Arkansas waiting to help you play an incredible role in a child’s foster or adoption story.
I think Logan Carpenter said it best: “If you’re considering it, that might just be a sign that you’re supposed to do it.”
I hope you enjoy this issue as much as I enjoyed putting it together.
Happy reading!
BUILT BY LOVE: ADDING THROUGH ADOPTION
How the Carpenter Family Chose to Grow Through Foster Care and Adoption