MP 093: How Do I Enjoy My Marriage In the Middle Of Adoption/Foster Care? (Interview with Ben and Kim Nunes)

Nancie and I adopted a few years ago and we’re not alone. 6-10 million Americans have had personal experience with adoption and 100 million people in the U.S. have adoption in their immediate family. On any given day there are 428,000 children in foster care. Unfortunately, more than 60% of those kids spend 2-5 years in the system before being adopted. We want to say thank you for caring for the ‘least of these’ and for using your home to provide stability for children who don’t have it. We also know that adoption can put a lot of strain on a marriage and we’re going to dive into that today.    Interview:   Today my interview is with Ben and Kim Nunes (1:25) I’d love for you to share a little bit about your story (3:00) So you guys were struggling in your marriage, what are some of the things that shifted? (4:33) At what point were you in this process before adoption becomes a consideration? (7:33) You guys are filling out the applications, talking to agencies, then what happens? (9:53) How was this impacting you as a couple? Was it drawing you together? Pushing you apart? (13:42) So you get the call. How long from then until he was home at your house? (19:17) So what does this do to you guys as a couple and in your marriage?  (21:22) Ben, was it hard for you to see your wife going through the roughest time of her life? (23:39) So Kim, you’re going through all these things. I watched with Nancie that her struggles were all paired with guilt. Did you feel those things? (27:54) You’re sitting across from a couple and they’re considering fostering or adoption. What is one thing you’d tell them to do? (32:13) Now talk to someone who has just brought a foster child home (32:41) What is one simple thing couples can do when life is chaotic? (35:23) Kim, talk a little about the work you’re doing in the foster and adoption space (38:01) How can people find out more about what you’re doing and how they can learn some of these things? (39:38)     RESOURCES: TBRI The Connected Child     We’d love to connect with you on Instagram or Facebook!   This episode was brought to you by the Married People Membership—an affordable, monthly subscription that provides married couples like you a ton of great resources every month to help you do marriage better. That means new date nights, videos, eBooks, messages, and more available to you when you need it - all in one place at one low price. Go to our website to find out more about the Married People Membership.   We hope you’ll join us for next week’s episode!