Grace Gottenbush adopted a new way of life.

At age 39, Grace Gottenbush left a job as president of her family’s well-known Cincinnati business to devote more time to adoptive and foster kids. She has no regrets about the decision to leave Servatii Pastry Shop in 2006 to care for kids from abusive and neglectful backgrounds.   

“I loved my life before, but I loooove my life now,” said Gottenbush, as three adoptive children joined her in the dining room of their busy Hyde Park home.  

Shelby, 4, Michael, 3, and Carleigh, 2, took a break from watching Dora the Explorer to play with each other or sit on their mom’s lap as she leafed through family photos. A fourth adoptive child, Madison, 6, was at school. 

Gottenbush had worked at Servatii, now with 10 locations, since age 14. After graduating from Xavier University in 1989, she advanced to the top – managing everything to do with front-of-store operations, such as customer service, sales training and marketing. She became an expert at ordering for special events, studying retail trends and projecting sales. 

She became a foster parent through the Hamilton County Department of Job and Family Services in 1994 to get children into her life. She comes from a family of six and “the house was too quiet,” she said.

“I got my license on my 27^th birthday,” she said. “I started out with one child age 6 or above, so I could work.” 

Since 1994, Gottenbush has cared for 11 foster children. She has adopted six; two older teens have moved out of the home. 

“I’m loving this phase of my life, I’ll have to say,” Gottenbush said. “My father is successful in business. I feel like I was, too, for 25 years of my life. Mom stayed home and cared for us and was an incredible mom. When I had the opportunity to have more of my mom’s experience, I grabbed it.” 

Gottenbush relies on her positive family experience, the help of Children’s Services workers, counsel from other foster and adoptive parents, training and other support while helping her foster and adoptive children overcome deep-seeded issues.

“They are children of war,” she said, sharing these and other examples: 

• Michael arrived shortly after she retired. He was three days old. His birth mother had given up parental rights after already losing three children to the public child protection system. She was in jail when she went into labor with Michael. He was born with a clubfoot and couldn’t walk until 2.
• Shelby came into her home in 2006 after being in four placements between ages 12 and 18 months. It took her six months to calm down after moving in.
• Carleigh joined Gottenbush’s family three days after birth. She had tested positive for drugs while in the womb. “A miraculous birth,” Gottenbush said. “Now, she’s so smart and agile.”

“I love my children,” she said. “I have enjoyed the humor and the imagination and the love of life and the strength that my children have.” 

After years of experience, Gottenbush has adopted a realistic outlook for her children. 

“Birth children in a stable environment have no guarantee of achieving a successful future,” she said. “Adoptive children, with a lot of hidden issues, are going to have a harder hill to climb on the path to successful adulthood.” 

And, thanks to people like Gottenbush, they get a much-needed boost as they trudge that road.