Hello, we are Carmen & Pablo from Brighton and Hove, England (United Kingdom). We appreciate you taking the time to learn about us and are truly grateful for your consideration. While your journey may lead to other families or paths, please know that we wish nothing but great and wonderful things for you and your child. We promise to love your child, share joy with them, and provide a safe home full of happiness. Adoption is our first choice for becoming parents, and we are wholeheartedly committed to this journey.
Dear Birth Mother
On Adoption, Written by Carmen
I was first introduced to adoption as a teenager and felt it could be a meaningful path to becoming a mum. My family has always viewed adoption and caring for children very positively; my parents even fostered several children while I was living with them. Since then, I have learned much more about adoption. Early in our relationship, I shared my thoughts on adoption with Pablo, and he was very open to starting a family this way. Together, we decided to make adoption our first choice. We selected the USA as the country to adopt from due to some challenges in the UK.
Our Story
We met in lively London. Carmen was working in Plymouth and visiting London for the weekend, while Pablo was in town for a day before returning to Reading, where he lived. We met that day and shared a connection. For a year, we met each other on weekends until deciding to move in together in Brighton and Hove. Now, seven years later, we live in the same area, have a home, are married, have a dog named Leon, and enjoy a wonderful life with family and friends. We love this stage of our lives, but we know the next chapter will be even more amazing.
Meet Carmen
I work as an Associate Professor at a British university. I chose this role because of my passion for research, continuous learning, and teaching. I find great joy in inspiring and motivating students to succeed and reach their potential, helping them build confidence and develop their skills. Academia offers me the flexibility to work from home frequently, and my schedule will be very convenient when it is time to bring the new baby home. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, walking our dog, traveling, and attending performances. I also volunteer with animal welfare organizations.
Carmen's Fun Facts
- Loves living by the sea and looking at the ocean
- Speaks Spanish and English and has started learning French
- Enjoys traveling and experiencing different cultures
- Loves Mediterranean and Asian food
- Can't live without her friends and family
- Lover of animals, especially her dog Leon.
- Likes staying up to date with world news
- Fan of Real Madrid and the Spanish national team
More on Carmen, Written by Pablo
Carmen is an exceptional individual, characterized by her remarkable attention to detail. Her compassion truly shines through in her approach to animals, particularly when it comes to dogs that have experienced mistreatment. In our partnership, she is an unwavering source of support across all facets of my life. She is consistently present with encouragement, practical advice, and a sympathetic ear. Her unique combination of empathy, dedication, and supportiveness not only makes her an extraordinary partner but also a truly admirable person. Her presence enriches my life, and I find myself continually inspired by her kindness and resilience. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have such a devoted and caring partner by my side. I am so excited to see Carmen become the amazing mother I know she will be.
Meet Pablo
My passion for sports, particularly soccer and martial arts, dates back to childhood. Professionally, I am Vice President of Engineering at a financial company, where I oversee and manage an engineering team. The flexibility of remote work allows me to maintain a strong work-life balance. Outside of work, I enjoy tackling DIY projects, exercising at the gym, gaming and spending time with Carmen.
Pablo's Fun Facts
- Big fan of FC Barcelona
- Speaks Spanish and English
- Loves playing games including video games, card games, and board games
- Loves cooking and baking
- Enjoys keeping informed about international news
- Favorite sports to play are soccer and running
- Takes pleasure in exploring the world to discover and understand diverse cultures
- Vanilla is the ice cream flavor he enjoys most
More on Pablo, Written by Carmen
Pablo is incredibly curious, constantly eager to learn and explore new ideas, which enriches our relationship. He exudes quiet confidence, secure in his abilities and knowledge. I love how he genuinely cares about the well-being of others, consistently showing kindness and a supportive nature in my life. He is always there for his partner, family and friends, offering encouragement and help whenever needed. With his naturally calm and optimistic outlook, he has a great sense of humor and is always ready with a funny story to lighten the mood in our relationship. I cannot wait to see Pablo as a dad. Although he may be reserved at first, he becomes more talkative and engaging once he gets to know someone. I feel very lucky to have Pablo as my other half and cannot wait to raise a child with him by my side.
Our Hobbies
We have many interests, including a passion for traveling, spending quality time with family and friends, tackling DIY projects, dining out, and staying active. We love exploring new places, staying informed about the world, remaining curious, trying new things, and embracing new possibilities and experiences. Both of us were involved in sports, camps, music, and language lessons during our childhood. For our future children, we are excited to introduce them to various extracurricular activities to help them discover their own interests. We aim to provide our children with enriching opportunities to learn and grow, fostering their development into well-rounded individuals.
Our Home
Brighton and Hove is such a great city, known for its family-friendly environment, numerous parks, and diverse range of activities and events. Located just one hour from London, it boasts a beautiful eight-mile-long pebble beach with shallow waters perfect for swimming, making it ideal for a family day out. The city is celebrated for its dynamic, diverse and inclusive community. In our quiet neighborhood, we enjoy friendly neighbors and convenient access to various amenities. We are within walking distance of a school that offers both English and Spanish immersion programs. Additionally, we are just ten minutes away from a sports center that provides a wide range of activities for kids, and a short drive to the downtown area, home to attractions such as the Royal Pavilion and various museums. Our city, Brighton and Hove, truly offers a perfect blend of urban convenience and scenic beauty, making it a wonderful place to live.
Meet Our Dog, Leon
Leon is our 9-year old Yorkshire Terrier, whom we adopted four years ago. He is a lovely dog who keeps us active. Leon loves everyone, is great with kids, and particularly enjoys being with Carmen's parents' dog. He loves going for walks and having company. He is the best dog ever and an integral member of our family.
Values We Hope to Share with a Child
- Encourage kindness, honesty, and respect towards oneself, others, animals, and the environment.
- Foster gratitude, curiosity, and perseverance for personal growth.
- Promote generosity, open-mindedness, and courage to embrace diversity and face challenges.
- Teach humility and responsibility to understand the impact of actions.
- Inspire creativity for problem-solving and self-expression, providing a foundation for navigating the world.
Our Family
We have large families and many friends. Both of us grew up surrounded by close relatives and cousins. Carmen's Family: I grew up with two older sisters in Madrid, Spain, in a family-oriented home, where we maintained close relationships not only with my immediate family but also with my grandparents, cousins, uncles and aunts. My parents have always been a strong source of support in my life. My mum was a primary school teacher, and my dad, initially an industrial engineer, switched careers to become a secondary school teacher to prioritize family. We have always been very close. My family and friends have been incredibly supportive and excited about our adoption journey.
Pablo's Family: I grew up with an older brother in Barcelona, Spain, where our parents had moved for better opportunities. Their divorce when I was 16 disrupted our family dynamic, making life more challenging. This experience, though difficult, instilled in me a deep appreciation for life's blessings and a strong determination to stand up for my beliefs. It fostered resilience, shaping me into a stronger adult better equipped to handle life's obstacles. Despite the hardships, these formative experiences ultimately contributed to my personal growth and adaptability.
On Parenting
- We want to provide our future children with the same or even greater opportunities than or own parents gave us by learning from each set of parents and taking the best of both.
- Our love for learning will be central to our home, where education and being passionate about one's work will be highly encouraged.
- We will demonstrate values like kindness, responsibility, and integrity in our daily lives, knowing that children learn best from what they observe.
- We would love for our children to have knowledge of their origins and maintain a relationship with their birth family.
- We are excited about sharing experiences with our children, such as visits to National Parks.
In Closing- Thank You
We feel incredibly grateful that you took the time to learn more about us, so thank you. We are also eager to learn more about you, including your goals and dreams. We understand that you may be considering us as your child's future family, and that means the world to us. We are excited to share more about who we are, the home we are creating, and the dreams and commitments we have made to each other and to you. As we have followed our hearts on this path to adoption, we hope you follow yours and choose the path that feels right for you and your child. Sending lots of love from England and wishing you all the best for your future.
Carmen & Pablo