April 16, 2021
09. Grief, Anxiety, and Adoption: Interview with Ashley Banion
Sandee’s guest today is Ashley Banion, an English teacher, published author, high school cheerleading coach and mom. She always dreamed of becoming a published author, but she put that dream aside when she became an English teacher. In this episode, Ashle
🏫 Ashley enjoys working in an elementary school. 2:46
🥰 Ashley and her husband, Vince, are highschool sweethearts, but they’ve known each other since kindergarten. 4:02
👶 I want to adopt a baby. 7:14
🎌 A free trip to Japan, and Japan’s program for adoption. 8:24
🗾 International adoption takes longer than adoption in the states, so the year-long wait felt like the longest year of Ashley’s life. 12:08
🤯 Ashley received the call that changed her life. 14:58
🎭 Handling the ups and downs of her adoption journey, and coping with mixed feelings. 17:54
☯️ Loss in adoption. 20:00
🙏 Ashley is very grateful. 25:00
🏃♀️ Jogging helped Ashely with the stress and anxiety issues she had. 26:16
🌺 Mizuki is Ashley’s daughter's name, which means beautiful. 30:10
🌊 “Grief is like an ocean.” 32:06
👧🏻 Everly is a cute, independent, and sassy girl. 33:32
🧐 When is the right time to tell your child about adoption? 36:15
👘 Ashley plans to go to Japan with Everly and learn Japanese. 41:03
🤣 The first days of motherhood in Japan were not easy, especially with no changing tables in the coffee shops. 41:42
☀️ Exposing your vulnerability is essential to helping other people. 47:43
Connect with Ashley:
https://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Moon-Waiting-Adoption-Memoir/dp/B08P4FDRMG
https://www.facebook.com/onebighappyfamilyfinally
https://www.facebook.com/ashleybanionauthor/
Connect with Sandee
https://www.facebook.com/coachsandeesgarlata/