Julia and Winston’s journey to parenthood has been shaped by love, strength, and a rich mix of cultures. As a Black Caribbean and White British couple, they hoped to adopt a child whose background reflected their own. But more than anything, they simply wanted to give a child in need a safe, loving home.
Their path wasn’t straightforward. After several miscarriages, an ectopic pregnancy, and an unsuccessful round of IVF, they began exploring adoption. Encouragement from friends who had adopted, along with an information course, helped them realise they could absolutely do this.
As slightly older adopters, they brought open hearts and open minds, along with the understanding that older children often flourish with parents who can offer life experience and a strong foundation of stability – qualities they were ready to provide. Then came Psalm-Aya. After around six months, their journey led to a match that felt nothing short of meant to be.
Psalm-Aya was nearly four when she moved in, and the first year was full of adjustment. They followed her foster carers’ routine to help her settle, and slowly, a new rhythm emerged. For them, the kitchen became the heart of their new life together. The morning after her first night with them, they baked cookies. To deepen her bond with Winston, Sunday mornings became pancake time – just the two of them. Psalm-Aya’s favourite part is choosing the toppings: sugar, lemon, toffee sauce, chocolate sauce, strawberry sauce… sometimes all at once.
From messy slime and colourful painting to baking, chopping with her own child-friendly knife set, and even sweeping the floor (not always helpfully), Psalm-Aya throws herself into every activity. Julia fondly recalls the moment she chopped her first onion and asked, “Why am I crying?” The kitchen has become their special place, filled with laughter, learning, and a growing bond.
Julia used to worry about keeping the house perfectly tidy — she couldn’t believe her eyes when part of the ceiling fell down just before an important visit from the social worker. But it didn’t matter. What mattered was the love, stability, and joy they could offer. Their home isn’t always tidy anymore — Psalm-Aya makes sure of that — but it’s full of life.
When Psalm-Aya first arrived, she was tiny, quiet, cautious, and unsure. Now six, she’s thriving. She’s energetic, confident, and constantly outgrowing her clothes!
“Life used to be quiet, and our mornings were leisurely. Now our home is brilliantly loud from the moment she wakes up and it’s the best kind of wake-up call. Some days are messy, some are magical, but every single one starts with her voice filling the house — and I wouldn’t change that for anything. We spent so long worrying about whether we’d be ‘ready’, but none of that mattered in the end. If you’re thinking about adoption, don’t let fear talk you out of it — you might be more ready than you think.”
*names might have been changed to protect identity