{"id":1694,"date":"2026-01-30T23:42:44","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T23:42:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naekokozawa.online\/?p=1694"},"modified":"2026-01-30T23:42:44","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T23:42:44","slug":"i-chose-both","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naekokozawa.online\/?p=1694","title":{"rendered":"I Chose Both\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"blog__detail-thumb\">\n<div class=\"image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-post-image\" src=\"https:\/\/news.gymroomathome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/26-5.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.gymroomathome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/26-5.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/news.gymroomathome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/26-5-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/news.gymroomathome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/26-5-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/news.gymroomathome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/26-5-768x960.jpg 768w\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1350\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"blog__detail-content default__style\">\n<p data-start=\"46\" data-end=\"432\">They judged me before they ever knew my name. A Black mom\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f469-1f3fe-200d-1f9b1.svg\" alt=\"\ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffe\u200d\ud83e\uddb1\" \/>. Two children\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f467-1f3fd.svg\" alt=\"\ud83d\udc67\ud83c\udffd\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f466-1f3fd.svg\" alt=\"\ud83d\udc66\ud83c\udffd\" \/>. Both with Down syndrome\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f49b.svg\" alt=\"\ud83d\udc9b\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f49b.svg\" alt=\"\ud83d\udc9b\" \/>. At the foster home, I watched families come in, pause, and choose\u00a0<strong data-start=\"232\" data-end=\"239\">one<\/strong>\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f494.svg\" alt=\"\ud83d\udc94\" \/>. One child would be lifted into new arms, while the other was left behind, eyes searching, hand slowly falling away. I saw it happen, and I knew I couldn\u2019t turn away from that kind of pain.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"434\" data-end=\"883\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10140\" src=\"http:\/\/news.gymroomathome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/26-5.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.gymroomathome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/26-5.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/news.gymroomathome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/26-5-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/news.gymroomathome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/26-5-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/news.gymroomathome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/26-5-768x960.jpg 768w\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1350\" \/>I saw\u00a0<strong data-start=\"440\" data-end=\"470\">two siblings holding hands<\/strong>\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f91d.svg\" alt=\"\ud83e\udd1d\" \/>. No words were needed \u2014 they told me everything. In that moment, I understood clearly: if I chose one, I would choose\u00a0<strong data-start=\"592\" data-end=\"600\">both<\/strong>\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f90d.svg\" alt=\"\ud83e\udd0d\" \/>. Not because I believed I was stronger than anyone else, but because I believe love should never begin with separation. On Adoption Day\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f5d3.svg\" alt=\"\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/270d-1f3fd.svg\" alt=\"\u270d\ud83c\udffd\" \/>, I signed without hesitation. No calculations. No fear. Just one simple truth guiding my hand:\u00a0<strong data-start=\"842\" data-end=\"882\">family means no one gets left behind<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9471\" src=\"http:\/\/news.gymroomathome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2-7.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 784px) 100vw, 784px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.gymroomathome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2-7.jpg 784w, https:\/\/news.gymroomathome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2-7-201x300.jpg 201w, https:\/\/news.gymroomathome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2-7-687x1024.jpg 687w, https:\/\/news.gymroomathome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2-7-768x1144.jpg 768w\" alt=\"\" width=\"784\" height=\"1168\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"885\" data-end=\"1179\">Today, this house is a home\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f3e1.svg\" alt=\"\ud83c\udfe1\" \/>. It\u2019s filled with laughter, bedtime stories, and goodnight hugs\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f917.svg\" alt=\"\ud83e\udd17\" \/>. Evenings no longer carry the weight of goodbyes, only the quiet comfort of belonging\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f319.svg\" alt=\"\ud83c\udf19\" \/>. These two children now know what it means to be safe, to be chosen, and to be loved without conditions\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f90d.svg\" alt=\"\ud83e\udd0d\" \/>.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9472\" src=\"http:\/\/news.gymroomathome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3-7.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 784px) 100vw, 784px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.gymroomathome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3-7.jpg 784w, https:\/\/news.gymroomathome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3-7-201x300.jpg 201w, https:\/\/news.gymroomathome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3-7-687x1024.jpg 687w, https:\/\/news.gymroomathome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3-7-768x1144.jpg 768w\" alt=\"\" width=\"784\" height=\"1168\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1181\" data-end=\"1593\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">People warned me about the challenges ahead \u2014 the exhaustion, the hard days, the unknowns. But no one warned me about\u00a0<strong data-start=\"1299\" data-end=\"1329\">how big this love would be<\/strong>\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f496.svg\" alt=\"\ud83d\udc96\" \/>. A love that heals, stretches the heart, and builds strength where fear once lived\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/2764.svg\" alt=\"\u2764\ufe0f\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f64f.svg\" alt=\"\ud83d\ude4f\" \/>. Some families aren\u2019t born from blood. They\u2019re born from\u00a0<strong data-start=\"1478\" data-end=\"1507\">choice, courage, and love<\/strong>. And I know this with certainty: this was the most beautiful decision of my life\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f90d.svg\" alt=\"\ud83e\udd0d\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/2728.svg\" alt=\"\u2728\" \/>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1463567\" data-uid=\"0c523\">\n<div id=\"mgw1463567_0c523\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"mgbox card-media\">\n<div class=\"mgheader\"><span class=\"mghead\">Promoted Content<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/center><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; They judged me before they ever knew my name. A Black mom\u00a0. Two children\u00a0. Both with Down syndrome\u00a0. At the foster home, I watched families come in, pause, and &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1694","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naekokozawa.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1694","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naekokozawa.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naekokozawa.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naekokozawa.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naekokozawa.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1694"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/naekokozawa.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1694\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1695,"href":"https:\/\/naekokozawa.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1694\/revisions\/1695"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naekokozawa.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1694"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naekokozawa.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1694"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naekokozawa.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1694"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}