Emma and Mike always knew adoption would be part of their story. Emma grew up with adopted godbrothers, and Mike, while training to be a vicar, formed close friendships with adoptive families — witnessing firsthand the joy it can bring. When they talked about expanding their family, adoption was always in the picture — whether alongside biological children or not. When they discovered that conceiving wasn’t going to be part of their story, they embraced “Plan A+” — their adoption journey.
They didn’t let home ownership or health conditions stand in their way. Emma lives with chronic fatigue, and Mike has ADHD and dyspraxia — but rather than barriers, these shaped their decision to adopt older children whose school routines fit beautifully into their lives. The same can’t be said for the endless books and toys — Emma’s become an expert at playing Tetris with every available nook and cranny.
They first saw their son (7) and daughter (6) in a video shared through a social media family finding campaign. It was still early in the process, but something clicked. They had always hoped to adopt two children and soon realised the joy of keeping siblings together. Despite initial worries about whether they’d be the right parents, their openness and faith led them to a match that felt just right.
Their home is now filled with beautiful chaos. At the heart of it all is the kitchen where their children — affectionately known as “Bubble and Squeak” — play with Play-Doh, paint, bake, and sing “Who Stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar?” at every mealtime, thanks to Auntie Louise (or Auntie Cheese as their son calls her!). He loves flicking through recipe book pictures, always eager to find out which hob they’ll be using that day. The kitchen table is cluttered with half-finished crafts and scattered toys. Yet somehow, it feels bigger than ever — it’s where they eat, pray, and laugh together.
“Every step, challenge, and moment of uncertainty brought us closer to our children – and now, we simply can’t imagine life without them. They’ve taught us more than we ever thought possible. We haven’t perfected parenthood — far from it — but we’re learning, growing, and laughing every day. Our home is certainly louder and messier than before, but it’s also full of life. We don’t feel like an adoptive family. We just feel like a family.”
*names might have been changed to protect identity