Melinda & Sekou • Waiting Families • PairTree

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Melinda

Sage

Gender:

Female

Status:

State:

Georgia

Religion:

Christianity

Education:

Ph.D. or higher

Profession:

Entrepreneur/Organizational Development Consultant

Political Affiliation:

Very Liberal

Sekou

Neighbor

Gender:

Male

Status:

State:

Georgia

Religion:

Christianity

Education:

Master’s Degree

Profession:

Actor

Political Affiliation:

Lean Liberal

Hello!

Dear Expectant Mom, We hope that this process, while filled with its own set of challenges, is also one that gives you some hope, clarity and the peace of mind you deserve . It cannot be easy, but we pray that you’ll have all you need to support your decision making. We are praying for you. We hope what you experience in these next pages gives you a sense - even beyond the pages – of who we are, what’s important to us and whether we’d be the right match for your child. This is a big step for us, too, so please know that we are also walking this process one step at a time – by faith.. We’d be delighted to start a conversation to see if we might be the right match for each other. In the meanwhile, we hope something here makes you smile and makes the process easier. Thanks for considering us to parent your child. It's a responsibility we don't take lightly. We’d be honored to hear from you at your convenience.

Melinda & Sekou

What is the best word to describe our family?

Grounded.

-Sekou

Dogs or cats?

Neither! I prefer humans to animals anyday! :)

-Melinda

My neighborhood is a good place to raise a family because…

Because it is close to a great park, good schools, other families with children, and it feels safe.

-Sekou

My best friend would describe me as...

Down to earth and passionate about my artistry.

-Sekou

What scares you?

Spiders

-Sekou

When we argue, what’s it about?

Patterns.

-Sekou

If you had to live on an RV or sailboat for the rest of your life, which would it be?

RV.

-Sekou

Do you consider yourself religious or spiritual?

Spiritual.

-Sekou

We are the best choice because…

Our diverse life experience, creativity, and value system make for a thriving and supporting life for a child.

-Sekou

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you look at the night sky?

The possibilities life has to offer and the vastness of God.

-Sekou

If you had to pick a famous person to play you in a movie, who would it be?

Nia Long. I think she’d do a great job bringing the sass, the softness and the seriousness of her character (me!)

-Melinda

Do you consider yourself religious or spiritual?

Both! I am religious in that I am Christian - I observe Christian holidays, rituals and sacraments of the Christian Church. However, my spirituality is most informed by the teachings and example of Jesus the Christ and that is what informs how I live my life, make decisions, treat people and seek to live out my God given purpose in ways that emulate Jesus - healing, love and transforming lives.

-Melinda

We are the best choice because…

We have lots of love, blessings and community to surround a child with.

-Melinda

My neighborhood is a good place to raise a family because…

It is mainly residential, yet close to the Zoo, parks and around the corner from an elementary school. It is a racially and economically diverse neighborhood that is safe, quiet and thriving.

-Melinda

Dogs or cats?

Dogs.

-Sekou

I would never...

say “I’d never”! :) I am careful to not presume I’d always know what I’d do in a certain circumstance, especially if it were a challenging one. I’d just pray for the Spirit to give me wisdom and strength to act with integrity and grace.

-Melinda

If I could have dinner with anyone—dead or alive—I would pick...

Muhammad Ali.

-Sekou

What scares you?

things that can hurt me – bees, snakes, wild animals, etc.

-Melinda

Three years from now, I hope our child’s birth mom is…

thriving.

-Melinda

My favorite place in the World is...

wherever Sekou is - he makes me feel like I'm “home”.

-Melinda

My favorite YouTube video is: (paste the full link)

https://youtu.be/ETkOOPpg5kk

-Melinda

If I could have dinner with anyone—dead or alive—I would pick...

My Mom. She was a force, a light and such great company. I miss her everyday.

-Melinda

Favorite season and why?

Spring because of the anticipation of growth and the idea of new opportunities.

-Sekou

Complete the sentence, “I can’t live without……”

Air.

-Sekou

My favorite website is (...not your Facebook page :)):

www.beautifulventures.com

-Sekou

My philosophy on parenting is...

to provide support, guidance, protection and love. I think it's also a big responsibility of parents to expose children to experiences that show them what they can become, that help them find their own giftings, and that affirm their God-given amazingness.

-Melinda

If you had to live on an RV or sailboat for the rest of your life, which would it be?

RV so that I could more easily visit the people (in this country) that I care about and would want to be able to get to (and them to me) more easily than if on a sailboat.

-Melinda

In five years our relationship with our child’s birth mother will…

Stable and cooperative.

-Sekou

I'm super competitive when it comes to...

sports.

-Sekou

I would never...

intentionally do anything to make people feel excluded.

-Sekou

Complete the sentence, “I can’t live without……”

Water

-Sekou

If I could change one thing about the World, it would be...

Exploiting the vulnerable.

-Sekou

I hope our child’s birth mother is…

feeling at peace with this very difficult decision, has the support that she needs, and will never feel any regret associated with her decision.

-Melinda

Favorite season and why?

Summer! I’m a Summer Baby and I love the time of enjoying outdoor activities, going to the beach, reunions and vacations.

-Melinda

What is the best word to describe our family?

Grounded.

-Melinda

If I could choose one type of food to eat for the rest of my life, it would be:

Fruit!

-Melinda

Three years from now, I hope our child’s birth mom is…

Healthy and open to communicating with her birth child.

-Sekou

When we argue, what’s it about?

We tend to argue about how we are communicating with each other – and how much feel that we are being heard and respected by the other , moreso than actual disagreements on substance.

-Melinda

The most special thing I own is...

my wedding ring.

-Sekou

If I could change one thing about the World, it would be...

the U.S. would be back on track (v. regressing) on being a “more perfect Union” - i.e., more justice, more freedoms , more safety and more democracy for ALL.

-Melinda

I'm super competitive when it comes to...

people who are super competitve with me at a game (like Sekou)...I'm not really all that competitive, but I get into the fact that they are, so then I go all in!

-Melinda

Complete the sentence, “I can’t live without……”

Water

-Melinda

What scares you?

Being in proximity to wild animals.

-Sekou

My favorite website is (...not your Facebook page :)):

www.sekoulaidlow.com

-Melinda

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you look at the night sky?

the fact that Harriet Tubman led thousands of her people to freedom by reading the stars in the Night Sky, and following the Spirit.

-Melinda

If you had to live on an RV or sailboat for the rest of your life, which would it be?

-Melinda

My favorite Instagram account is:

@bikosmanna_

-Melinda

My favorite place in the World is...

South Africa.

-Sekou

My favorite YouTube video is: (paste the full link)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Fd06U-3TAY

-Sekou

The most special thing I own is...

my wedding ring.

-Melinda

In five years our relationship with our child’s birth mother will…

be largely a function of how much and how often she’d like to be connected and communicate with the child. I hope our relationship would be warm, respectful and easy.

-Melinda

I hope our child’s birth mother is…

Stable and with a sound mind.

-Sekou

Complete the sentence, “I can’t live without……”

authentic relationships, good music and soulful art.

-Melinda

My favorite Instagram account is:

@melinda_weekes

-Sekou

If you had to pick a famous person to play you in a movie, who would it be?

James Baldwin.