Anna Walls, Lund board member, shares her experience with adoption
Over 10 years ago, Anna and her husband made a life-changing decision. Overnight, their family of two became a family of four when they adopted their niece and nephew. At just five years old and under a year old, these children were in need of a stable, loving home—and Anna and her husband didn’t hesitate to provide it.
The decision to adopt their niece and nephew felt natural. But they quickly learned that while the decision might come easily, navigating the transition takes time, effort, and a significant amount of resources. “With kinship adoption, it’s easy to say yes without thinking through all the logistics. You make the decision, and then you figure everything out as you go,” Anna recalls.
The First Days: Essentials and Adjustments
With a baby in the picture, the first priority was ensuring the basic needs were met. “We needed diapers, wipes, a car seat, crib, even pacifiers—everything that comes with caring for a newborn,” she says. At the same time, they had to make sure their five-year-old felt secure and cared for, adding clothing, winter gear, and school supplies to the growing list of necessities.
Having the necessities was just half the picture though. “We were both working full time and we needed to quickly figure out childcare, and think about things like, ‘What’s the plan when a child is home sick?’” Anna shares. Some workplaces offer leave for adoption and some don’t and you need a lot of time off from work during this process and transition.
A Year of Growth and Learning
Throughout the first year, Anna and her husband faced one transition after another. The first holiday season as a family of four, managing the rapid growth of children who constantly need bigger clothing and shoes, and even navigating travel logistics—all brought new challenges. “You settle into the new normal, and then something new comes up that we hadn’t anticipated,” she says.
Budgeting was an ongoing learning curve. “We had to translate our income from supporting two people to supporting four,” Anna explains. They made good use of thrift stores and yard sales, but it would have been helpful to have budgeting resources during this transition.
Adoption is also an emotional journey for the whole family. Once basic needs are met, it’s important to consider what you need as a caregiver to keep your cup full. “I wish we had started looking at these resources sooner,” Anna reflects. “Lund has provided many supports that have greatly impacted us as individuals and as a family.”
Supporting Families Like Anna’s
This GivingTuesday, Lund is launching the Forever Families Fund. The fund will provide one-time financial assistance to families newly formed through adoption, easing the challenges of transitions like Anna experienced—whether it’s helping with a security deposit for a larger apartment, purchasing essential baby supplies, or offsetting the costs of unexpected needs.
Anna’s story highlights the profound impact adoption can have, not only for the children involved but also for the families who welcome them with open arms. By supporting Lund’s Forever Families Fund campaign, you can help ensure more families have the resources they need to thrive.
