Hundreds of adoptive mothers celebrate their first Mother's Day

Bloomfield Journal, May 9, 2008

Wide Horizons For Children (WHFC), a leading non-profit adoption and child welfare agency, is honoring the hundreds of mothers who fulfilled their dream of motherhood this year by adopting a child. Of the 654 children placed by Wide Horizons For Children since last Mother's Day, 536 children have been placed with first-time parents. In Connecticut alone, the agency placed 32 children with first-time parents since last Mother's Day.

Additionally, seven families will be arriving home from Ethiopia with their newly adopted children during the Mother's Day weekend. The agency is also honoring the many birth-mothers and foster moms around the world on Birth-Mother's Day, which falls on Saturday, May 10th.

Mary Ellen Scott and her husband Craig of Bloomfield became parents to a newborn baby boy in March. Mr. & Mrs. Scott adopted their son domestically just days after his birth. The couple finished their adoption paperwork this past fall and had no idea they would be matched with a child so quickly. "It was like the Amazing Race: Baby Mission," Mary Ellen reflects. "We weren't prepared but family and friends pulled together and helped us get everything we needed in time for Spencer's arrival. Every minute of being Spencer's mom has been wonderful," she continued. Building their family through adoption was very important to Mr. & Mrs. Scott as they were both adopted themselves.

"So many women have been longing to celebrate being a mom on Mother's Day for a long time" said Vicki Peterson, Executive Director of External Affairs at Wide Horizons For Children. "We are delighted to play a role in helping the dream of motherhood come true for so many people through the process of adoption. It is a true joy and great wonder for each mother and child."