Joanna Ivey, Adoptee and owner of Our Chosen Child Adoption Profile Design, digs into the tough stuff, sharing her perspective on why the narratives you create about adoption, expectant parents, siblings and loss matter, and what you can do to change them.

Adoption doesn’t always unfold the way we hope, but often in the way it’s meant to. In this heartfelt reflection, Our Chosen Child founder Joanna Ivey—an adoptee and adoptive mama—shares her family’s winding journey, the heartbreaks they endured, and the joy of finally welcoming their son.

What do birth families really notice in adoption profile books? Jessica Butler interviewed her son’s birth grandmother, who shared candid insights about the photos, words, and little details that made all the difference.