For Maxine and her husband Ed, adoption wasn’t a second choice – it was a part of life.

“I grew up with parents who were foster carers, “Maxine says. “They later adopted a sibling group. I’m one of 11 siblings, all adopted from care. So adoption was always normal for us – it just felt right.”

Having grown up surrounded by adoption, they always hoped to adopt siblings themselves.

Even with her background, becoming an adopter was a new experience.

“Experiencing adoption as a big sister and experiencing it as a mummy- to-be were completely different,” Maxine explains. “Some parts felt overwhelming, especially the paperwork. We just wanted to meet our children.”

She describes the process as a “rollercoaster of emotions.” With waiting the hardest part. “The highs were amazing. The stressful moments weren’t as bad as you build them up to be in your head.”

Support made all the difference. “You go into adoption feeling like you have to be perfect, but there’s no such thing. Our social worker was there every step, she knew what was right for us.”

The moment they were matched with their children was unforgettable.

“When we received their profile, there were no pictures, just the words. And I knew straight away. Everybody says, ’when you know, you know’ – and they were right.”

After years of IVF treatment, adoption brought both hope and reality checks.

“You build up this idea of what family life will look like, “Maxine says. “The reality is completely different, and probably better. Sometimes they just want a snack, a cuddle and a cartoon. Throw away expectations and celebrate things as they happen.”

She also stresses that children need to build trust. “Don’t expect them to love you straight away. Relationships take time. They need their sibling bond first, that became our priority.”

Preparation went beyond bedrooms and toys.

“We wanted adoption to be open and normal,” says Maxine. “We involved our nieces and nephews so they could understand the journey alongside us.”

Flexibility was key. “You prepare the perfect playroom and then they just want to be wherever you are. You learn quickly to go with the flow.”

After doing some research, they discovered Caritas Care and felt it was the right fit for them.

“It was a completely different vibe at Caritas Care. We came away thinking, ‘this is doable.’ I rang the next morning and we’ve never looked back.”

For Maxine, continuity and support were crucial. “Having one social worker throughout the whole process built trust. You feel safe and listened to, like walking into family.”

Nearly a year later, Maxine reflects, “Every day is different. You’re always learning together – and that’s the beautiful part.”

Her message is simple…

“Just talk. Even if you have a thousand questions, keep asking until it makes sense. If you’re asking those questions, you’re probably already on the journey.”