Meeting MILLI...

I've been on alot of interviews in my life but none quite like this. How do you convince someone you are stable, sane, and trustworthy enough to be a surrogate. That you are loving, caring, and nurturing but not so much so that you want to keep the resulting life that has been a part of you (literally) for 9 months. The world is full of surrogacy horror stories.

I'm happy to be working with Surrogacy Specialists of America (SSA) based in Houston. I may have to do a bit of traveling to Texas depending on the couple I'm matched with. Luckily, my high school friend lives there and this will give us a chance to catch up. Thanks to modern technology, we are able to do the interview via Skype! The agency director was super sweet and laughed at all my little corny jokes while we talked. It's a defense mechanism I have when I'm nervous...and today I was extremely so.

She started by asking me about myself - what I do for a living, my family, etc. They want to be certain I have a steady source of income and a strong support system throughout the pregnancy. She even spoke with my husband for a little bit (hereinafter referred to as "Pubs") asking what I was like when pregnant. That's like saying "What kind of drunk is she? Happy? Angry? Emotional?" He gave good enough anwers to satisfy the question yet not offend me. Smart Guy.

I'm a reporter. TV Host. Radio DJ. Public Speaker. VO artist. and Actress. What do all these things have in common? Verbal communication. There aren't many times when I'm at a loss for words. My job depends on my ability to find something to say even when I have nothing to say. But when Pubs left, the counselor's next question stopped me dead in my tracks.

"Do you think you will get attached to the baby?"

In an effort to answer the way I think they want me to and not set off the cuckoo bird alarm, my knee jerk reaction was No. But I paused. Got really quiet. Listened to my heart. And answered honestly,

"Of course, I'm going to be attched to the baby. How could I not be attached to something that has been living, moving, and growing inside me? I was scared to admit that...thinking you might worry. But I'd be more worried about someone who says they WON'T have a connection with the child. That's a cold, heartless person. Because I know my purpose going in, I understand the end result. That makes it easier to let go. I find solace in that."

She was impressed by that answer and thanked me for my candor. It is quite possible to fall in love with someone you've never seen before. I've done it 4 times. But the director assured me that our family would have our own special time with the baby to say our "see ya laters".

"What made you decide to become a surrogate?"

The short answer: when I have babies, I push 4 times and they pop out. Everything about having children is easy for me. (Raising them...not so much!) Funny because my friends in school used to tease me for my "child bearing hips". Well, In your face! They came in handy! Besides, I enjoy being pregant.

I don't know the pain of infertility nor will I sit here and even pretend I can imagine such sorrow. So, if I'm able to do something that

1. I enjoy

2. Comes easily to me

3. Brings someone joy

4. Will change someone's life

It is my obligation to do it. The definition of being used by God for His glory. At the end of day, isn't that why we're all here?

~ MILLI M.