Adoption Day 2023: A “Sigh of Relief”
For as long as she can remember, Sarah Mueller wanted to be a mom.
“You ask anybody that’s known me, it wasn’t, ‘Oh, wow. You’re going to be a mom.’ It was, ‘It’s about time, we were waiting.’”
She has one biological son who is eight years old, but always knew she wanted to expand her family.
“Being a happily single person, it limits your options,” said Mueller. “But, I know that there are so many children out there that need a forever home and need love. So, I had the conversation with my then four-and-a-half-year-old child and said, ‘Hey, what do you think about us having more kids?’”
He was immediately on board with the idea. That’s when the family of two got connected to Wellpoint Care Network and began fostering.
“I got licensed in July of 2020 and I’ve had five children in my care over the last three years,” said Mueller. “Including a little girl that was placed with me in October of 2020, and I adopted her in June of 2021.”
Mueller adds that the little girl came into her care via Safe Haven, which allows a parent to leave their newborn in a safe place without fear of legal consequences.
“If you don’t want to be a parent or can’t care for a child the way that they deserve to be cared for, the fact Safe Haven exists is so incredible. I frequently share that my daughter came to me as a Safe Haven and how thankful I am for that program.”
On November 17, 2023 — National Adoption Day —, the family of three became a family of four, as 10-month-old Wyatt (also a Safe Haven infant) officially joined the Mueller crew.
“As a mother of two Safe Havens, I’m truly committed to giving these children everything that they deserve. Also, to let them know their birth parents love them so much, and the amount of sacrifice that they must have had to be able to make this decision for them.”
Mueller says Adoption Day is a “sigh of relief.”
“We can hug him, snuggle him, spoil him for the rest of his life with that comfort of, ‘This is our little boy. This is my son. This is my sibling, my little brother.’”
“Just being able to make plans for the future is amazing. You can think about five years from now. You can have those real dreams of going on a vacation or just little life milestones.”
Mueller encourages anyone who is interested in foster care or adoption to take the leap.
“Even if you’re single, don’t let that discourage you. Attend the informational sessions, ask any and every question you have ever wondered and then think about your priorities. For me, my priority is always children. Being a single parent is only difficult if you let it be difficult.”
To learn how you can become a foster parent, click here.
