From foster dad to forever dad!
A Cincinnati man adopted five siblings to keep them together, WSVN reports.
Robert Carter is now an amazing single dad of five. Last December, Carter began fostering three boys, Robert Jr., Giovanni, and Kiontae. It wasn’t until after he took the boys in that he realized they had two sisters, Marionna and Makayla. The girls were also in the foster system and they had been separated from their brothers for six months. Carter spoke candidly about the moment he realized he would have to take them all in.
“We met up for visits, and all the kids were crying. They didn’t want to leave each other, and at that moment, I knew, ok, I have to adopt all five,” Carter told reporters.
As a child who grew up in foster care, Carter said that he knew all too well the system’s complexities and how hard that could be for siblings who were separated. He didn’t want that to happen to his boys.
“My mom had nine kids, and I didn’t see my youngest [sibling]. He was two. I didn’t see him again until he was 16, so for me going through that, I knew how important it is for them to see each other and be around each other. When I had my boys before I got the girls, that’s all they talked about was their sisters,” said Carter.
He eventually began the adoption process for all five siblings, getting a bigger home and making it official this October 30th of this year. Stacy Barton, an adoption case manager, spoke about Carter, saying that while his situation was rare, she knew it was a good fit for the children.
“I’ve never had a single father adopt five children. I’ve had married couples who have adopted six or seven, so this was a unique experience for me. Children need families, and it’s an opportunity for Mr. Carter to show the community that he can do it, and others can, too,” Barton said.
The single father of five said he’s just happy to have all the children together and looks forward to being the best father he can be.
“I’m just happy that it’s over, and I’m their dad for the rest of their life, and they know that they’ll never have to go through what they went through again,” Carter said.
Thank you for your selfless act, Mr. Carter! Because of you, they can!
Photo Courtesy of Hamilton County JFS Adoption & Foster Care Recruitment/WSVN