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3 reasons why I became a Life and Career Coach supporting mid-life adoptive parents.

Updated: May 3



Katy Smith in her kitchen working
Katy Smith Coaching

  1. I’m an adoptive parent in mid-life.

In my mid 30’s, my husband and I adopted our eldest son as a baby. We adopted again 3 years later and our second son joined our family.

In our early thirties, we had 3 unsuccessful IVF attempts and knew we wouldn’t put ourselves and our bodies through this invasive procedure anymore. After a period of processing that we wouldn't have our own biological child, we realised that adoption was the natural next step for us. Relatives had adopted so we were aware of the process after speaking to them and several other people we knew.

When our eldest was placed with us, we'd been on a 7-year journey to create our family. 7 years of putting life on hold, just in case we fell pregnant naturally, just in case IVF worked, working through the adoption process - the toll emotionally of this alone meant we couldn’t concentrate on anything else.

Sole focus

Going through the adoption process and waiting to be placed with a child is the major focus in your life at the time!


Shortly after our youngest was placed and approaching 40, I knew it was time to reassess my life and where it was heading!

Don’t get me wrong, family life can mean juggling and putting your family's needs at the forefront but after putting my life on hold for10 years, it was time to work out what I really wanted to do, following my calling if you will!

Mid-life is also a time when you begin to realise that you have a lot of working years behind you and possibly less in front of you. It’s also a time when you want to do something that means you can have that balance for your family and yourself. This is what I set out to do!

2. Achieving essential Life balance

Life Balance graphic of a person in a meditation pose
Life Balance graphic

I’ve had many conversations with adoptive parents when their children are first placed, especially when they are young like ours were. Aft