Lauren #12692 is 26 years old and lives in the greater Los Angeles area.  She is available immediately and is very excited to help a recipient grow their family.  Her personal essay is below.

“I am a middle child and only girl in my family.  While most people think that means that it resulted in heavy brotherly and fatherly protection, this couldn’t be further from the truth.  Being the only girl I learned to take care of myself, because I was outnumbered and not to mention the middle child.  I think I always felt I had something to prove whether it was keeping up with the boys or being just as good as them in sports or hobbies.  It most definitely gave me confidence and competitiveness.

Family is something I’m so proud to be a part of.  My parents did such a great job showing us how lucky we are to have siblings and that we are all so loved.  My childhood is a direct reflection as to what I want when I’m older, and I have my parents to thank for that.  I look up to my parents a lot.  When I think of all that they sacrificed for us it makes me realize how much you’re willing to do for your kids.  They worked hard so that all three of us could have a private school education.  They encouraged us to have extracurricular activities in music and sports and took us camping multiple times a year.  I never thought growing up that I would want to be like them but now I enjoy doing all the things they instilled in us, like a passion for backpacking and hiking, football (my San Diego Chargers), music, art, fashion and being involved in my church and community.

I started volunteering at my church’s Sunday School, and I’m almost certain that’s where I fell in love with children and knew I was meant to be a mother.  I continued to volunteer with children all throughout my schooling.  That naturally lead me into babysitting as I got older and then becoming a certified nanny and volunterring at my pediatrician’s office.

I don’t think that every woman is born with a maternal instinct.  I do know that I have it.  And I do know that I can’t wait to have kids.  And I have personal experience with friends who want kids but can’t have them.  I can’t think of anything that would make me more heartbroken than coming to the realization that I could not have kids.  It’s so amazing how far science has come in making things possible that were once so discouraging or seemed like the end of the road for some couples.  I can’t imagine a better gift to someone than helping them have what I want more than anything.”

- Lauren #12692