35. Liz Leedham-Pepin on Becoming a Mom Through Adoption

In this conversation, Keltie speaks with Liz Leedham-Pepin, who shares her powerful journey to motherhood through adoption. You'll hear Liz and Keltie discuss:

• Liz's lifelong dreams of motherhood, and the emotional rollercoaster of trying to conceive
• Why Liz decided that motherhood probably wasn't for her after all, and why she and her wife decided to adopt after a life-changing epiphany
• Insights from Liz's experience navigating the adoption process, the importance of self-advocacy, and the unexpected challenges that arose along the journey
• The importance of openness in adoption, the ethical considerations involved, and the lengthy process of navigating the adoption system in Canada
• Some of the complexities and challenges of parenting Liz and her wife have faced as an LGBTQ+ couple
• Liz's experience and perspectives on parenting children with special needs
• Advice for prospective adoptive parents and reflections on the joys of parenthood

About Liz: Liz Leedham-Pepin is a nurse living in British Columbia, Canada, with her wife and their adopted twins. Their family will soon be joined by the twins' younger brother. Liz's professional experience includes time spent working with autistic children and at-risk youth, including youth and teenagers struggling with emotional disturbances, addiction, mental health, homelessness, and prostitution. Liz's nursing experience includes emergency and on-call forensic nursing, and supporting moderate to severe mental health and addiction. 

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