Six siblings who had spent five years in foster care were ultimately adopted by their two fathers in 2021. They’ve found their forever home and couldn’t ask for finer parents. Steve and Rob Anderson-McLean, a Pennsylvania couple, adopted the six siblings to keep them together. In 2018, they learned of an adoption need for Carlos, 14, Guadalupe, 13, Maria, 12, Selena, 10, Nasa, 9, and Max, 7.
When the two fathers first saw their images, they felt compelled to adopt them. The couple was aware that many siblings are separated in the foster care system, which can result in long-term psychological trauma. They didn’t want that to happen to these brothers and sisters. Fortunately, the state agreed that they should remain together.
As a result, in July 2018, all six children were placed as foster children with the two fathers. After only a week, the siblings asked their new parents if they could stay indefinitely. They’d been having a great time together, going to the zoo, parks, and playing in the backyard.
They never got much of a chance to have fun while in foster care. As a result, they drank up the events as much as they could and never wanted them to end.
At first, Steve and Rob were concerned about how Carlos, the oldest sibling, would respond to having same-sex parents. They expected him to have difficulty adjusting because he was a teenager. He didn’t seem affected at all, and he fit right in with the family.
All six siblings are thrilled to have two loving fathers who wish to offer them the world. Friday nights at the trampoline park are their favorite. However, since their adoption, they have treasured every moment spent together.
When the two fathers legally adopted the children on May 23, 2019, they felt extremely fortunate and blessed. Steve had two sons from a previous marriage: Parker, 25, and Noah, 21. The judge informed the couple that the adoptive children were now equally theirs.
The dads couldn’t have been happier when they peered up into the grateful eyes of their new children. They will never forget that beautiful day, and they will always treat the siblings as if they were biological children.
The brothers finally had a regular existence following adoption, after spending 1,640 days in foster care. The children, according to the couple, have brought so much love and warmth into their lives. They also get along well with their friends and extended family, which is an extra plus to the arrangement.
For nearly two decades, Steve and Rob Anderson-McLean have been together. They married in Maryland in 2013 after holding a commitment ceremony in 2006. Parker and Noah thought they weren’t finished raising children after they grew up and moved away. Steve stated that after seeing a TV show about a couple adopting brothers, he and Rob were inspired to do the same.
They discovered how many siblings are separated in the system after doing some research on adopting children. It devastated their hearts, and they wanted to avoid that occurring again. As a result, they began looking for children to adopt in the United States. They discovered the six siblings on an Ohio website, where it was indicated that they had been in foster care for nearly five years.
Unfortunately, the children had been abused and neglected, and their parents lost custody of them in 2017. They first met the youngsters in June 2018, intending to provide them with a better existence. The siblings moved in with their fathers the following month, and the rest is history.
Adoption can be a difficult and time-consuming procedure, but it is well worth it to change the lives of children. Steve thought he could provide the kids with a better life. But he had no idea how much the siblings would affect him and his husband. The family of eight is loving their new life together, and the kids couldn’t be happier for their fathers.
But they still can’t believe they’ve been adopted and worry that it won’t last. Max, their 7-year-old son, approached Steve one day and said, “I’m adopted.” He seemed to need to say it out loud in order to accept that he had been adopted.
Steve understood Max’s feelings after moving from one foster family to the next. He also asked Steve whether he could become unadopted, something his father told him would never happen. He informed him he would always be their son, a statement the couple repeats to all of their children. They want the kids to understand that they are not leaving.
They’ve been living with the couple for three years, yet it feels like they’ve known each other for a lifetime. Rob claims they’ve shared an emotional link for many years. They make fresh memories every day and consider themselves fortunate to have each other. And their love knows no bounds, assisting in the transformation of the youngsters from their difficult past.
Carlos informed his parents that having a solid, permanent family was strange. He no longer had to refer to himself as a foster child, a term he assumed would always be attached to him. He is now the son of two caring fathers who strive to provide the best possible life for their children.
When two fathers adopted six kids in Pittsburgh, they had no idea how drastically their lives would alter. The youngsters come from an abusive home and have spent over 5 years in the foster care system. Unfortunately, they had never known love, stability, or security, all of which they sorely needed. Thankfully, Steve and Rob chose to give them a second opportunity and use love to transform their lives.
They were heartbroken by the children’s history after hearing their stories and wanted to make a difference. The family of eight has been together for three years and plans to spend many more. It’s incredible how love and affection can mend even the most wounded hearts. If you’ve ever thought of adopting a child, hopefully this tale will inspire you to do so!