How We'll Parent

Most importantly, we know that children need to feel loved and valued. We plan to nurture and support our child by paying attention to his or her ideas, feelings, and experiences. We hope that our son or daughter will come to know that he or she can share anything with us (interests, worries, disappointments, accomplishments) and expect to be supported. We eat dinner together every night and plan to continue doing that when our baby arrives. It is a time when we share what our day was like, check in with each other, laugh, etc. In our home, education is a priority. We see school as a child’s “job,” and helping kids, when they need it, as a parent’s responsibility. Of course kids need limits, and we plan to set them in a loving way. In our home there is a lot of laughter; we look forward to being silly and playful with our son or daughter. Finally, we know how important it is for kids to feel special to their parents. We will always do our best to show our son or daughter how much we know about and enjoy him or her (making his or her favorite treats, putting notes in his or her lunch box, and giving our son or daughter time when he or she has our undivided attention).

About Laura (By Brian)

Laura can make anyone laugh! She is an extremely loving, thoughtful, and giving person. Laura knows how to enjoy and celebrate life and always brightens my day. She is not only supportive of me, but of her friends and family, as well. I always knew I would marry someone who could go with me to the auto parts store and a cooking store on the same trip. Laura not only goes with me, she makes the trip fun. When Laura was very small, she had surgery that left her face slightly uneven, so she knows how sensitive children can be, and how much love, support, and protection they need. Her compassion is part of what makes her a great psychologist, friend to our friends' children, and part of what will make her a super great mom. Laura loves to make kids feel special, and I know she will help our child feel like the center of our world. As a psychologist with her own private practice, Laura makes her own schedule. She is excited to reduce her hours when we welcome a child into our home.

About Brian (By Laura)

Life with Brian is fun and entertaining. He does amazing impressions of family members, tells great stories, and is quick on his feet. Brian does so much baking and cooking that our friend's five year old thought he was a "professional cooker." I remember when he prepared and grilled a veggie patty shaped like a fish for our friend's vegetarian daughter, so she wouldn’t feel left out, while everyone else ate barbequed fish. Brian is looking forward to preparing special meals and treats for our son or daughter (including the best homemade birthday cakes ever). Brian is so kind and patient and always willing to help our friends' kids with their math and science homework. As a chemistry professor at a community college, education is a priority to him. I know that he will always be there to help our child with homework and cheer him or her on at a school play, soccer game, or maybe even a science fair. Brian loves old cars and still has his grandfather’s 1973 Plymouth. He is looking forward to taking our son or daughter to the drive-in theatre in the Plymouth and one day having fun teaching him or her how to drive it. Family is the center of Brian's world, and I know he is going to be a great dad.

Our Love Story

We met on an internet dating site. Laura’s name was “Must Love Dogs” and thankfully Brian does. Our relationship started with long phone calls (filled with laughter) and a lukewarm first date. Laura’s friends said give him a chance, and thank goodness Brian asked her out again. We met at Brian’s house, and he bought the same soda Laura ordered on our first date (and even had a lemon for her to squeeze into her drink, as she did when we went out the first time). He made her an amazing chocolate cake. Laura saw how nurturing and kind hearted Brian is. We hugged at the end of the night and still joke about who initiated the hug. Brian’s sure Laura did, and Laura says, “you really gave me quite a hug.” What matters now is that we hug and kiss each day, we express our appreciation and love for each other frequently, and we make each other laugh all the time. Laura feels like the best part of her life began, once she met Brian, and Brian can’t imagine his life without her. We are so excited to have a child, learn about his or her ideas, and create a nurturing, fun environment from which our child can develop into whoever he or she was meant to be.