Miranda and Brian planned to adopt internationally through Children’s Home Society. Then they found out they were too young to fulfill the age requirement for the international program and decided to become foster parents until they turned 25.
Just after becoming licensed, they provided weekend respite care for a sibling group of four. The children were living with their aunt and uncle, who were planning to adopt them. A month later, they did respite care for the children again. Less than a month later, the county called to say the children needed emergency placement. If they couldn’t take them, the kids would be split up.
“When the children stayed with us on the weekends,” Miranda said, “we always thought it would be great to foster or adopt them, but we didn’t think that was an option. Suddenly, it was, so we were excited to say yes.”
From Foster Parents to Adoptive Parents
The aunt and uncle decided adopting their niece and nephews wasn’t feasible. Knowing how well the children connected with the couple, they requested that Miranda and Brian be invited to consider adopting the siblings.
“So here they came!” Miranda recalled. “Four kids under five and only one of them was out of diapers!”
Miranda’s experience as a pre-school teacher and a corrections officer has taught her how to use structure to create order. “We have high expectations about behavior and responsibilities,” Miranda said. “We’re not perfect by any means. But the kids know what’s expected of them, and they thrive with that direction.”
A Growing Family
Brian and Miranda got a call from county services, letting them know the children’s birth mother had just delivered a baby—would they be willing to adopt the infant?
“We didn’t hesitate to say yes—even before we figured out how to get five car seats in the car!” Miranda said.
Miranda and Brian are grateful all five siblings are together. “It’s all they’ve ever known,” Brian said. “When they need each other, they are there for each other. We wanted this baby to have the same experience.”
As 27-year-old parents with kids ranging in age from 3 to 9 years old, Brian and Miranda say it’s hard to imagine their life any differently.
They keep open communication with the children’s biological mom, “because we don’t ever want them to think we are keeping them away from her,” said Miranda. “You can never have too many people loving you.”
