Adopting from Foster Care: A Journey Without Regrets

For many years in the foster care system, I have supported numerous families and individuals in their journeys to adoption. Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with a couple who adopted six children through our agency. They shared their experiences, expressing that while at times it can be challenging, they wouldn’t change a thing. Their children range in age from newborn to 14 years old, and they are growing up incredibly fast, their presence truly amazing.

With this in mind, I reflected on my own experiences with foster care adoption. I have personally adopted three children from foster care and have one biological daughter. My first adoption involved a brother and sister, 5 and 7 years old, who had been in foster care for over two years. Despite the challenges, the process was marked by amazing caseworkers and therapists. Their adoption was finalized six months after they moved in with my then-husband and I. Today, they are 17 and 19, and they have become happy, strong, and independent young adults. The love and warmth they bring to our lives are as invaluable as my own biological daughter.

My second adoption involved a foster care child, my biological niece, who was taken into CPS custody at birth. I fostered her from the time she was three months old until her adoption was finalized just before her second birthday. This process was different from my first; being in a different state made the journey more complex, but the result was worth it as she is now five and thriving. Both adoptions have been filled with absolute joy and no regrets whatsoever.

My wife and I fostered and then adopted our three daughters, coming to us from highly abusive homes when they were in their early teens. Despite the physical and emotional scars they carried, they learned to trust, love themselves, and overcome their fears. Night terrors and pain remained, but each girl found her own way to heal, performing her own miracles. Today, we have four daughters, with three sharing our DNA and each one middle-aged, strong, independent, and healthy, all with their own families. They still call us 'Mom and Dad,' and it's a bond that transcends biological ties. This journey is one where regrets do not exist, and the heart is filled with pride and joy.

Adopting from foster care is a profound and life-changing experience. It requires commitment, patience, and love. Yet, for those who do, the impact on both the adoptive families and the children's lives is immeasurable. It is a journey without regrets, a path that leads to incredible growth, healing, and family bonds that last a lifetime.