This one’s gonna stick with you.

Jessica’s not just a mom—she’s a mom of six, a brand-new nana, a business owner, and someone who’s walked through grief, healing, and hope in some of the rawest ways imaginable. In this episode, we talk about what it really looks like to build a family—through birth, loss, and international adoption.

We cover:

• Lose a child at 37 weeks and still growing your family

• The wild (and painfully slow) ride of international adoption

• Facing the backlash of being a white mom raising a Black son

• How she knew her adopted son was meant to be hers—even when the “movie moment” never came

• The hard, beautiful lessons in patience, identity, and trauma

• Why “bonding issues” and “it’s too expensive” are myths worth breaking

• And yes, what happens when your adoption post goes viral and the internet comes for you
  

Spoiler: Giraffes and God both make appearances.

Whether you’re a parent, someone considering adoption, or just curious about the real-life stuff people don’t put on Instagram, this one’s for you.

FOLLOW JESSICA: 👉 Instagram: @jessicamandile

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Timehop (for the memory lane scroll)
  

• Adoption Airfare (for more affordable travel)
  

• Foster care vs. international adoption pros and cons
  

• Real talk on the “white savior” narrative
  

YOUR HOST: Jess, your go-to mom friend who’ll cry with you, laugh with you, and probably forget where she put her coffee. Again.

Connect With Me:

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• Follow on @bestjesscampbell for updates

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