A 20-year-old woman faced the difficult decision of placing her newborn son up for adoption, acknowledging that she couldn’t provide him with the life he deserved. However, this adoption took an unexpected turn when the boy’s adoptive family chose to include the birth mother, Schauna Austin, in his life every step of the way, as reported by CBS News.
Austin recounted the emotional moments after giving birth to her son, whom she named Riley, and holding him for an uninterrupted 72 hours. She cherished every minute, fully aware that their time together would be short-lived. Sleep eluded her for three days as she embraced the precious moments. While traditional closed adoptions typically keep the identities of the adoptive and biological parents confidential, in Austin’s case, that anonymity lasted only about a week.
Jennifer Schoebinger, the adoptive mother, expressed that Austin became an integral part of their family. She and her husband, Chris Schoebinger, had no desire to exclude the biological mother. Jennifer shared, “It just felt right. She was meant to be a part of our family.” Understanding the importance of love, Jennifer and Chris sent Austin numerous photos and yearly bound books documenting Steven’s milestones, ensuring that they could resume their connection whenever they were ready.
When Steven turned seven, his adoptive parents believed it was the appropriate time to introduce him to his biological mother. The reunion sparked a beautiful connection, and they have been making cherished memories ever since. Austin even taught Steven how to fish, and their bond remains strong. Overwhelmed with gratitude, Austin exclaimed, “I felt incredibly blessed.” Steven echoed her sentiments, saying, “I truly had the best of both worlds.”
Now 26 years old, married, and a father himself, Steven honored his biological mother by naming his own son Riley, after the name she had given him. Reflecting on their journey, Chris Schoebinger shared, “We learned that sometimes we create unnecessary barriers, and when we remove them, love finds its way in.”
