When you start your embryo adoption journey through Snowflakes, may seem like it is all paperwork and preferences – until you learn that you will need to create a family profile.
For some people, this is an exciting opportunity! A time to be creative, write about your life, and pull out the family photos. For others who do not enjoy writing (myself included), this feels like a daunting task.
If you are nervous about creating your profile for your embryo adoption, you are not alone. The steps below can help break down the process to make it more manageable, less overwhelming, and – dare I say? – fun! Read on to learn how to easily begin the profile process.
Decide on format & theme
We all want to look our best, don’t we? Your family profile is no different! If you are feeling overwhelmed with thoughts of writing a whole profile, an easy place to start is to decide what platform you are going to use and choosing your “look”! You can use any platform that can be easily converted into a PDF, so use something that you are comfortable and familiar with. Most commonly, families opt to use Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, or Canva.
Once you have chosen the format, it is time to doll it up a bit. Word, PowerPoint, and Canva all have pre-made style templates which are a great tool for making your profile cohesive and visually appealing. Even when using a template, there is still plenty of room to let your own style shine through!
Choose photos & layout
Still not quite ready for the writing? That is okay! Some people like to first decide what photos they plan to include in their profile. When choosing photos, strive to have a good mix. You can use these “mixture” guidelines when deciding which pictures make the cut!
- Solo photos (just you or you and your spouse, if married) & group photos (include family, friends, other children if you have them, and pets!)
- Professional (if you have them) and casual (nobody expects your whole life to be captured with a Canon 6D Mark II)
- Posed & candid
- People & place (show off the people in your community, and show off the beautiful place where you live)
Try to include 8-16 photos, and write a brief caption for each one. Be sure to include a photo of your home and/or yard.
Once you have selected your photos, you can decide on the layout of your profile. It often helps at this point in the process to decide what the written “sections” of your profile will be (don’t worry, you don’t have to write them quite yet!) and group the photos accordingly. Writing a page about your spouse? Put their sharpest-looking pictures on that page. Sharing what your favorite hobbies are? Great place to insert that mountaintop hiking photo from last Summer. This is a great way to visually organize your profile, making sure that all necessary topics are covered and each photo has its place. The sections can be creatively yours, but be sure to include an introduction letter, some sort of autobiography, and a closing.
Get to writing!
Okay, the time has come to put pen to paper (or, most likely, fingertips to keypad). If you are a writer, then this part will be a breeze. If this is not your strong suit, lean on the prep work you have done so far to help you. You already have your sections outlined and photos to help inspire your words. If you are married, it is often easier (and more fun!) to write an “about” section for your spouse, rather than writing your own. After all, it is pretty easy to talk about the people we love! If you are single, ask your family and friends for some words that describe you or favorite things about you to help get your thoughts flowing.
As you think of what to write about, but be sure to include important information that the other family will want to know, such as…
- Physical descriptions
- If married – your love story!
- Any current children, and the story of how they joined your family
- Religious affiliations
- Hobbies, activities, & other interests
- Employment & education
- Description of your home & neighborhood
- Plans for childcare
Review
Phew – the writing is done! Before you submit the profile, be sure to check your work. Give it another read-through to ensure there are no spelling or grammar errors (Grammarly is your friend!), and make sure that no identifying information has snuck its way in (your street name or house number in a photo, for example). You may even consider sharing the profile with a close friend or family member to get a fresh set of eyes on it. Your adoption advisor is also there to help you if you need suggestions or confirmation that everything looks good.
Submit
The writing is done, the photos are in place, and all that is left to do is send it off! Before you submit your profile, convert it from the original format to a PDF. If you are unsure how to do this, ask your adoption advisor (or a techy friend) for some help. After converting it, it is a good idea to look through the profile one more time to make sure that no formatting or pictures got messed up in the process. Once you have your PDF, it is time to email it in!
Celebrate!
Creating a family profile is a big step – it can feel nerve-wracking (and sometimes just downright impossible) to sum yourselves up in one little profile. When you submit your final profile, take a moment to celebrate all the work you have put in so far. Your future children are eagerly waiting to meet you, and you have just come one-step closer.
To learn more about the Snowflakes Embryo Adoption Program, visit Snowflakes.org.
By Julie Harvey