Adopting a Sibling Group is a Bigger Deal Than One

By Nicole Dorsey

One of the first things you realize when you start filling out domestic adoption paperwork via foster care and the county - in our case Los Angeles County - you realize how many brothers and sisters must be separated during the domestic adoption process because it's nearly impossible to take in two, three or even four siblings.

RELATED: How to Raise an Adopted Child

How can one adoptive family go through the foster-to-adopt plan with more than one child? If you've read this blog before, you know that I chicken out pretty quickly. When all you think your little family can handle is one foster toddler, but there's the chance you'd get a child faster if you agree to foster her siblings, too.

This happens all the time. If me and my family (with husband and bio son Sam) agree to foster siblings we'd have a foster delivery far quicker than usual. I heard from reader Shell, who said she had to look deep inside her heart and soul before she began the adoption process for a sibling group.

Shell told me, "We are so very blessed. We adopted two different sibling groups of three children each. All of these kids are as close as any family I have met, and this also includes my eldest daughter who is my biological daughter." Shell also said, "We loved a sibling group of three teens and then some years later, we were honored once again to receive three much littler ones."

All of these foster children had horrific beginnings, though Shell declined to divulge the terrible symptoms and sexual abuse some of the children had experienced either in foster care or their own homes. But this she will admit for all six adopted children, including her own bio daughter, who is a spectacular older sister to the younger children still at home.

RELATED: Adopting a Foster Child

Looking back, Shell said, "With love all of these children turned into amazing human beings, surrounded by love, support and goodness. My eldest boy has even traveled to Uganda to help orphaned children there and another one of my adopted children went to Mexico [on a humanitarian trip]. Plus, our little ones now volunteer several days per month to help our homeless local community.

My littlest ones donate all their clothing, blankets and food to the needy. All of my teenagers have now graduated high school, and all have gone onto colleges. My three younger ones [from the last sibling adoption] are still home and they are loved beyond measure."

Shell says that her family "is nothing special. Our story doesn't make the news and I am certain there are many like us, but we are nothing sensational. I want to bring those [homeless or unloved] children home with me."

I want to hear more adoption success stories like mama Shell's. She told me, "Happy adoption stories are everywhere, unheard but real."

Related:

• Starting the Adoption Process

• 8 Things You Should Know About Adoption

• Helping Adopted Kids Adjust

• 10 Questions Not to Ask Adoptive Parents

• Children's Books About Adoption