Celebrating Angel and Zavion’s Adoption
We’re excited to announce that earlier this year, brothers Angel (14) and Zavion (10) were adopted by Ryan and Matt! Ryan was kind enough to write about their family’s adoption story for us, below. We hope you enjoy the story of how they met Angel and Zavion and what family life is like for them. Congratulations to Angel, Zavion, Matt, and Ryan! We wish you a bright and happy future together.
Matt and I had always planned on having kids. It was a part of our discussion even before we got married. Through our work (Matt is a social worker, and I am a teacher), we were both keenly aware of the need for foster and adoptive parents. That is why we chose to adopt.
At first, we were looking to adopt one child. As our adoption journey progressed, we started to consider the possibility of adopting two kids. Moving into a new home was going to be stressful, especially during a pandemic, but it would be easier if they had each other. So we agreed that we had space in our home and in our hearts for a pair of siblings.
We wanted our kids to have family members close to their ages - someone to connect with. Between the two of us we have five nephews and two nieces, ranging in ages from 8 to 16. So we were looking in that age range. The boys are currently 14 and 10 - they were 12 and 8 when we met them.
We first met Angel and Zavion in August, 2020, and it was virtual. We found it pretty awkward at first, but with the help of one of the boy’s therapeutic providers, we were able to break the ice. We met in person a few days later, at a park the boys were familiar with. We talked, played some games, and enjoyed some cake together (it was Angel’s 13th birthday). We met several more times (virtually and in person) over the next few weeks, as we prepared for the boys to move in at the end of the month.
We spent the next few months really working on routines and relationship building. We had to remind them what it felt like to be a part of a family - spending time together, sharing thoughts and feelings, and helping around the house. It took some time to develop that trust with the boys, especially with Angel - he was much more guarded. But all that work is paying off; we’ve reached a point where they feel loved, and feel like they belong. To Matt and I, it feels like they’ve always been with us. In fact, it’s hard to remember what life was like before them.
Both of our boys bring so much light into the world. Zavion has been openly affectionate from day one. We’ve started so many days with a hug from this little guy. And we can’t even describe how it felt the first time he called us “Dad” or “Daddy”. Angel has a great sense of humor, and tries to make everyone laugh. And though he wouldn’t show affection at the very beginning, he shows us how he feels now by leaning on us and putting his arms over our shoulders. We love how silly they can be, how well they get along, and how they hang out and play together.
Now that the boys are officially adopted, we’d love to travel. Angel is fascinated by Japanese history and culture, and he would LOVE to go there one of these days. Zavion would love to go, as well - he enjoys seeing and experiencing new things. Matt and I have a couple of places in mind to visit - Canada, Ireland, and a few others.
More practically, we’re looking forward to teaching Angel how to drive. He also wants to start working, so we’re excited to help him prepare for that.
We’ve helped the boys find social activities they enjoy - Angel is excelling at karate, and Zavion has enjoyed Cub Scouts and soccer. We’re always on the lookout for other activities they might enjoy.
One of the most exciting things about being a parent is sharing the things you love with them. We’re both excited to continue to do that.