Are you pregnant and considering adoption for your child? If you choose to place your baby for adoption through our agency, we want you to feel as comfortable as possible, throughout the process. That’s why we’ll occasionally share an interview with one of our local caseworkers. So you can have an idea of who you might work with, what they’re like, and their heart to help you through this process.
Today, we want to introduce one of our Savannah area caseworkers: Senja.
Okay, you must get this a lot, but…how do you say your name??
Haha! I do! It’s pronounced “Sen-ya.” Like “I’ll sen-ya a letter.” But honestly, after all these years, I answer to anything that starts with an “S.”
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Sure! I am 34 years old and I live in the Savannah area with my husband, Josh, and our two, 80-pound dog-babies, Adeleine and Forsyth. I grew up in Montana and the Pacific Northwest before moving to Savannah after college. I have always been kind of a quiet person, but I can be pretty goofy, once you get to know me a bit. I love dad jokes, The Office, and reading.
So, how did you get into working with adoption?
I have been doing counseling for several years and came across a job posting for an “adoption counselor.” My husband and I have talked about adoption since before we started dating, but I had never really thought about it from the perspective of the birth mom. When I saw that job post, I started thinking about how hard it must be to place a child for adoption, and how much it would help to have someone to talk to about the decision, to ask questions, and just someone to be there. I feel privileged to be the one who can just be there with these women, to help them make a plan and get some peace and sense of control back, in a really hard situation.
What is one of your favorite moments from this job?
I think one of my favorite moments is the first conversation between a birth mom and an adoptive family. One that I specifically remember was really sweet. They were all a little awkward and trying really hard to connect and be friendly, at first, but as they kept talking, there was this really fast bond that started forming. They suddenly found so many things in common and it was really amazing to watch these total strangers suddenly become like family, because they were bonded by this child they all had in common.
What is one of the hardest things you do?
The hardest thing is when a birth mom is really starting to settle into her decision to place and the emotions really get hard. It breaks my heart to get that text message or phone call when she’s realizing what it’s going to be like to put that baby in someone else’s arms and her heart is just breaking. If I’m in person, I can offer a hug or a tissue, but on the phone, all I can do is listen and care and it never feels like quite enough.
What is one thing you would say to a woman who is considering adoption?
I know it feels like this experience is all there is. Like, every part of your life has spiraled down to this one moment and whatever decision you make, that’s all there’s ever going to be for you. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Whatever way you choose–parenting or adoption–will probably have some hard days, but there is so much hope. You have so many options, you’re not in it all alone, and I can’t wait for you to discover how much joy you will find in choosing the best plan for YOU.