Hello! (from Dayo)
Hello! My name is Adedayo (pronounced “Ah dey di yoh”) but I go by Dayo (“Di yoh”). Thank you for reading our book! The decision you are making for your child is so courageous and selfless. You may choose an open, semi-open or closed adoption, and we support you in your decision.
I am originally from Nigeria; born into a middle-class Christian family of five, but I have been a citizen of the United States for many years now and I call Idaho “home sweet home.” My parents are still married to this day, and I have two younger sisters named Funke and Abiodun. Both of my sisters are married with children. I grew up in a big city called “Lagos” in West Africa. Living in such a city with over twenty million people of all tribes and cultures had a substantial impact on the person I have become. In Nigeria, the English language is our first language, but I also speak a tribal language called “Yoruba”. My culture instilled in us a great respect for elders, taking care of your neighbors and your family. We celebrate each other, support our neighbors in need and check on them often. As you may observe, some of these cultural attributes are similar to Christian values. I continue to value these lessons learned from my parents and from my culture, even after moving to the United States.
I am an engineer and I love my job because I enjoy using the math and science I studied to produce microchips used on phones, cars, airplanes, computers, PC servers, and more. I get to work in cleanrooms and also work with intelligent people from all over the world. There are many opportunities for engineers in my field so it is a financially stable career with many benefits. I also get up to three months of parental leave and I work at home at least one day a week.
A transformative experience in my life was when our first child, Ayo, was born in 2015. It was a surreal moment seeing the love of my life, Sam, deliver our first child. I still think that the pain and joy in delivery of a child is the true measure of strength of a woman. It is powerful and beautiful.
Something I feel passionate about is volunteer work in the community. One of my favorite programs is called “hour of code”. I was part of a group of computer scientists and engineers that were given the opportunity to teach grade school kids the fundamentals of coding and computer use. I am also an executive board member of a group called the Community of Nigerians in Idaho (CONI). We present gifts and financial donations to several orgnaizations like the Idaho Food Bank, The Red Cross, homeless shelters, and so on. It is a wonderful opportunity to give back to families in our community.
It has been fun introducing my wife and kids to Nigerian music and dance moves. I also enjoy helping our kids practice for the various sports they are in. The kids and I have a favorite fishing spot in town. We also enjoy going on walks on the greenbelt or around the neighborhood as a family. About once a month, we have a family movie night with snacks and fort building. We are excited to have another little one to participate in our favorite activities together.
I am grateful to God who provides and guides me, and the blessing of love from my wonderful family abroad and here in the United States. I wake up every morning with full understanding that each choice we make helps pave the path for our future. Thank you for making the best choice for your child.