One of the most important things we would like to give your child is continuous love, care and attention, just as we both experienced in our own upbringing. There is a lot of similarity in the way both of us were brought up: the core has always been that we were raised with both ‘roots and wings’. Our parents gave us both a strong foundation and also the freedom to develop ourselves as unique individuals. If honored to be your child’s adoptive parents, we will give your child a stable home and lots of love. Part of our love will involve helping a child, over their growing up years, learn to listen to their heart and also develop good skills in figuring things out and making the best possible choices.  We are looking forward to Pimm being at home full time to care for our child to give the best possible chance of giving her or him a strong home-based foundation of love and encouragement.

We would like to raise your child with an awareness and knowledge of the various religions in the world, to give your child an openminded view of life. We celebrate holidays such as Christmas (with tree and presents) and Easter. Of course birthdays are important, and we also celebrate some typically Dutch festive days, such as Queen’s day and we love celebrating Sinterklaas.

We are Pimm and Eduard (both born in 1975), a male couple living in the Netherlands. The Netherlands is a small country in the west of Europe. The Netherlands, as a country, is known for the fact that our society includes the largest variety of nationalities, races and cultures per square mile, which results in a large cultural diversity and a high level of tolerance toward each other. As a male couple, we experience that our country is a safe, understanding and pleasant place to live in and to raise your child. We have talked with other families who have adopted transracially in the United States and we have made sure the experience for the children here is a warm and fully accepting life. We are thrilled to welcome your child into our lives and, yet, we also want you to know that we will continue her or his connection with you and with the States by traveling back there periodically for visits and for education (so that she or he knows about America as well).

Your child will have the opportunity for a wonderful education with all of Europe as background for their expanded learning. The schools in the Netherlands have government support and so children receive a well-rounded education (all the important skills and art and music are basics, not luxuries). Education is provided by our country from pre-school age through high school level. The government even helps parents afford professional education after their basic earlier education. A child will learn more than one language as well (English, Dutch and other languages if they have interest).

We realize that the choice for adoption is a very difficult choice to make. We cannot understand what it must feel like, but we wish we could make the choice in any way less difficult for you. The most important things we hope to have shared with you in this letter is the way we look at raising a child, and what we can offer your child. We have a clear view on communication and openness towards each other, which means that we want to be very open with your child about everyone who loves them. We will share with your child information about the adoption, complete with everything you would like to share with your child. We also welcome letters and phone calls and e-mails (we have an international toll free number you can use) and plan to connect in-person, if you want this, in the States, periodically while he or she is growing up. In this way we will all try to make sure that your child understands how much everyone still loves them. If connecting in-person isn’t desired by you when your child is young, we will always share with him or her that their mother performed the most extraordinary act of love to provide security and shelter for her child by making an adoption plan with our family. We will follow your lead and comfort level as to the degree of connection you want to maintain over the years. We will welcome the opportunity to provide you with pictures and written updates of your child as he or she grows, as well as exploring other ways of maintaining contact so you have a chance to know that he or she is well cared for and loved and so that your child grows up feeling your love as well.

Yours sincerely,

Pimm and Eduard