This is a story about a young couple Keia Jones-Baldwin. We got married 9 years ago. I have a 16-year-old daughter, Zariyah born in an earlier relationship. Though I already had a child, I always wanted to have more. Richardo did not have any kids, and he wished to have more.
At first, we tried to have a child the natural way, but we had many difficulties. I went through several miscarriages. It was heartbreaking. We spent a lot of money and time on fertility treatments and IVF, but nothing helped. It made us feel very sad and tired inside. I started feeling hopeless and miserable. I just wanted to have a child with my husband and provide Zariyah with a sibling.
We did not think about adoption at first. But after a long journey of disappointment, we decided to look into foster care. We found an organization in our city called Crossnore School & Children’s Home that helps people adopt. That is when we started to think differently.
We met Karleigh when she was 11 years old. She was a friend of Zariyah’s. I was unsure if I could love a child who wasn’t biologically mine like I loved Zariyah. It felt unfair. But when I met Karleigh, my heart immediately felt a connection. I knew I was meant to be her mother.
After finishing our foster parent training, we got our license and were ready to help children in need. We did not choose based on age, face, or gender; we just wanted to love and support the children God would bring to us.
The first child we placed was Ayden, who was 8 years old. After two years, their bicultural backgrounds strengthened, and Ayden and Karleigh bonded because of their bicultural backgrounds. Children should see individuals who resemble them and comprehend their experiences.
Later, we got a call about a newborn baby in the NICU who needed skin-to-skin contact. We did not know much about the baby except that he was a boy named Princeton. When I arrived, I was shocked to see he was a small white baby of only two pounds. I thought it might be a mistake but felt a strong motherly bond when I held him for the first time. When Princeton was healthy enough to come home, we welcomed him with love.
However, not everyone accepted our multiracial family. People judged us because we, a Black couple, adopted a white child. We faced hate and mean words. Some people even called the police, thinking we had kidnapped him. But none changed how we felt; Princeton is our son, and we love him deeply.
Fostering and adopting have not been easy, but they have been worth it. Our lives are richer, and we have learned much about love, strength, and unity. Through our blog, Raising Cultures, we share our story to help others understand that love has no limits.
