Introduction
Dear Expectant Parent(s),
Hello, we are Meera and Gopal. Thank you for taking an interest in reading our profile. Our story begins in 2016 when our mutual friends set us up on a blind date. We quickly discovered many things in common, including similar family backgrounds, hobbies, values, and our love for dogs. Surprisingly, we both worked as doctors in the same hospital for three years, yet our paths had never crossed.
Soon after we got to know each other, we realized we wanted to spend our lives together. In 2020, we had a pandemic wedding which included a small ceremony at city hall and a reception in Gopal’s backyard attended by our closest family. It was a perfect afternoon.
Gopal has a teenage daughter, Anjali, who spends half her time with us and half her time at her mom’s house. We also have two dogs: Max and Mango. They are so loving and gentle that they have converted many dog-phobic people into dog lovers.
We have a lot of love to give and are thrilled to grow our family. When we realized we were unable to have biological children due to infertility, we explored the possibility of adoption. We quickly realized this was absolutely the right choice for us, and we are so excited to bring a child into our home through adoption.
About Gopal (by Meera)
Gopal is a nurturing caretaker. I was drawn to this quality early in our relationship. Despite his demanding professional life, I was awed by how lovingly he cared for his parents, his daughter (Anjali), and his dog. Food is his love language! He enjoys perfecting a recipe and will work tirelessly to get it right. His ultimate goal is to get a perfect 10/10 rating from Anjali, his toughest critic. He makes excellent Indian and Italian food but also loves to explore new recipes. Lately, he’s been trying his hand at focaccia. He enjoys hosting big dinners for our friends and family, and nothing makes him happier than a full, bustling home.
Gopal is also a goofball. He makes corny jokes, loves a good pun, and is always fun to be around. He is smart, inquisitive, and loves languages. He grew up in a bilingual home, and in addition to being fluent in his mother tongue, he speaks French and Italian. He’s currently studying Haitian Creole. Food and language are cornerstones in his exploration of various cultures.
Over the last several years, I’ve loved watching Anjali grow from a curious young kid into a confident young woman. She fills our home with laughter and light. Gopal and Anjali are two peas in a pod. They have the same sense of humor and love for fantasy and sci-fi movies. They are obsessed with Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Marvel and have a tradition of watching every new Marvel movie on opening weekend. Anjali is a wonderful role model to her younger cousins, and excited to be a big sister as our family grows.
About Meera (by Gopal)
Meera is the most capable person I know. She can do anything she sets her mind to. If she doesn’t know how to do something, it doesn’t matter – she will take a class, watch a video and figure it out. This is why she’s now the one who makes all the household repairs in our home. Recently, she taught herself knitting and, within weeks, had made hats and sweaters for her stepdaughter and our niece.
Nothing ever seems to faze Meera. She is fearless, always cool under pressure, an adventure seeker, and an avid traveler. She loves to run and has participated in multiple marathons. She even inspired me to run a marathon too!
Most of all, Meera loves family above all else. She is the favorite aunt to all her nephews and nieces. Buying just the right gift is another one of her superpowers, and her nephews and nieces know that almost nothing can stop her from visiting them for special occasions and showering them with love. She is the ideal stepmother to Anjali, striking a balance between being a supportive confidante and an inspiring role model. She has a strong network of friends and is always the first to support any of her loved ones who are going through tough times.
Big Sister
I’m Anjali and I’m excited to be an older sister. I’ll be starting college soon, just a few miles away, and look forward to being home often. As a big sister, I’m excited to share my love of Harry Potter and Marvel movies, something my dad introduced me to when I was young. I look forward to being a role model and helping them explore the world.
I have a big extended family and especially enjoy seeing my cousins on the weekends. My youngest cousin is a toddler and I love reading to her and teaching her how to play with my dogs. I talk to my stepmom about anything and everything that’s going on in my life. My grandfather on my stepmom’s side is one of the nicest people I know, and I love making and eating potato curry with him. On my dad’s side, my grandfather and I joke around together and I enjoy hearing my grandmother tell me stories about her childhood. I love spending time with my family and can’t wait to see it grow!
Our Home
We’re so fortunate to live in a beautiful home in a suburb of Boston. It’s a warm community that we have been a part of for over a decade. We have friendly neighbors who went out of their way to make us feel welcomed when we moved in. Our neighborhood includes diverse families with children of all ages. We have access to an excellent school system that Anjali has enjoyed. It is a very walkable neighborhood where we enjoy being close to great parks, restaurants, and even a delicious local ice cream shop.
We have a spacious home where we regularly host friends and family. There is a big backyard for our dogs to play. They love being outside and keeping our yard free from rabbits and squirrels. Last summer, we planted our first vegetable garden and enjoyed the bounty of tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, and squash. When the weather is nice, we love grilling and eating most of our meals outside on our deck.
The short commute to work means that we spend more quality time in and around our home. Downtown Boston is a 20-minute car ride away, and the Charles River is great for walking, biking, and kayaking. There are many fun things to do just a short drive away, including visiting nice beaches, hiking trails, skiing, and camping. This is truly the perfect place to raise a family.
Our Family
We have South Asian roots and are a mix of four different countries. We were both born in North America and come from big families with diverse racial and religious backgrounds.
Growing up, we were close with our extended family and maintain these relationships today. Gopal’s parents live with us, so Anjali has benefited from growing up with her grandparents. They love being close with all their grandchildren. Gopal’s mom is a great story teller and is always making us laugh. She enjoys making their favorite treats. Gopal’s dad is active and enjoys playing tennis and chess with his grandchildren too.
Gopal’s sister and her family live 30 minutes away. Meera’s brother and his family live in Toronto. As a proud aunt and uncle of several nieces and nephews, staying close is a priority regardless of the distance. We love to make a big deal about their birthdays and enjoy celebrating their accomplishments, big and small. Since the pandemic, family is more important than ever. Quality time is cherished.
Our Traditions/Hobbies/Interests
We love to celebrate holidays. We were raised with deep respect for all cultures and traditions and keep this value close to our hearts. These holidays are also a great excuse to spend more time with our loved ones.
Every Thanksgiving, our house becomes the place where our friends and family gather to eat Gopal’s famous tofu turkey and Meera’s pies. For Diwali, the Indian Festival of Lights, we light lamps all over our home to remind us of the victory of light over darkness. Christmas brings lots of holiday baking, more family get-togethers and most of the day is spent eating and playing games in our pajamas.
We like to stay active and enjoy being outdoors. Living in New England means we are never far from an outdoor adventure. We love hiking with our dogs (Gopal proposed on one of those hikes!) and have explored many of our local trails. Each fall, we prioritize apple picking, eating cider donuts, and making apple crumble. Making corny jokes is a year-round event, and we still don’t know who is better at it.
Travel is something we both enjoy and have been able to do more and more. Going to a part of the US that we have never been to before or exploring a new country has given us a chance to broaden our horizons and better understand the world around us. We hope to raise a child with a strong sense of community, adventure, and curiosity.
Thank You
Thank you so much for taking the time to get to know us. We hope that through this book you have a sense of the loving home we have created.
It is our dream to see our family grow and we truly believe that adoption is a beautiful way to see that happen. If chosen as adoptive parents, we promise to love your child and provide a strong support system of extended family that will provide unconditional love and encouragement to help them reach their potential. We promise that their unique story will be known and honored.
We want to support you and will follow your lead on how open you would like this adoption to be. We will stay in touch with you to whatever degree you are comfortable with. We are grateful that you have taken the time to consider us as prospective parents and wish you the best of luck and lots of love in your journey.
Love,
Love,