You're listening to Natal, Chapter 5, In Asia's Journey.

Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother.

Oprah Winfrey.

I'd say I always wanted to be a mom, and I think when I was nine years old, I had asked my dad,

could I adopt a kid? And he was like, no, kids can't adopt kids. And so I was like, well,

I got a deal for you. Because you adopt a kid, I promise I'll take care of the kid and

like do everything the kid needs and stuff

like that. And then, but like the government people won't know. They'll think that you adopted

the kid. He was like, go ask your mother. And so I went to my mom and I was like, my dad said I can

adopt a kid if you help. And then she was like, your father didn't say that and I'm like are you

sure and uh and I remember this conversation so vividly because I rehearsed it and tried to rehearse

what answers they would say so that I can get my kid you know and I did not get a kid at nine years old.

I love Anasia's childhood memory. It's adorable and hilarious, yeah, but also as someone who is still on the fence about becoming a parent, I'm impressed by people like her, folks who

know for certain early on that they want to become one. I don't feel like our society in general thinks about it this way or says it enough.

But being a parent is such a sacred role.

So for someone to step into it or even be thrusted into parenting and embrace the joys and challenges that come with it,

that's really inspiring. From childhood to adulthood,

Anasia never changed her mind. As she grew and evolved in her wisdom, so did her

perspectives on motherhood and her vision of how she would have children. For a while, she assumed

she would adopt. But when she was 27, Anasia found out she was pregnant.

But before she got the chance to share this news with her friends and family, Anasia had a miscarriage.

I didn't tell anyone until like maybe two months later.

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