Not a lot of people can say that they’re a father of five, but Robert Carter couldn’t be any happier about it. The single man has been a foster dad since December of 2019, and he wanted to share his love and affection with three little ones who needed a home.
The man welcomed Robert Jr., Giovanni, and Kiontae with open arms into his house, but then he learned something that just broke his heart.
Apparently, these three foster children who were all siblings were still missing two of their own.
They were separated from their sisters Marionna and Makayla who were also in the foster system.
Of course, Robert made sure that all these brothers and sisters could see each other again during visits, but tears always flowed when they had to leave each other again. It was completely devastating, according to Robert.
“We met up for visits, and all the kids were crying,” the man said to FOX19. “They didn’t want to leave each other, and at that moment, I knew, ok, I have to adopt all five.”
For Robert, it’s a particularly touchy subject.
He grew up in foster care as well and knows what it’s like not being able to see your biological siblings again.
“My mom had nine kids, and I didn’t see my youngest [sibling] again. 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.”
Robert immediately had a plan in mind and wanted to make his three little boys happy.
Even though he was only fostering them at that point, Robert wanted to make it permanent. And it wouldn’t just end there: the man was also planning to adopt the two siblings as well, so everyone would be able to stay together.
The man worked incredibly hard to find a bigger house and to be able to accommodate everyone before making it official.
On National Adoption Day, Robert Carter officially became a father of five.
National Adoption Day is a big day for the country, and the amount of adoptions has actually been rising recently. However, they’ve never seen a case like Robert’s before.
He was the only foster parent out there who was willing to adopt all of them so that they wouldn’t get separated.
“I’ve never had a single father adopt five children,” adoption case manager Stacey Barton told FOX13. “His childhood background has made him aware of the importance of keeping siblings together.”
“When permanent custody was awarded to JFS, the five siblings were already placed in three different foster homes,” she later clarified on the HCkids website. “Mr. Carter was the only foster parent willing and able to adopt all of the children. His childhood background has made him aware of the importance of keeping siblings together. He says that he enjoys being their father and that parenting them is easier than he could have ever imagined! His life is busy, with a lot of love, laughter and loudness! I have enjoyed working with him and witnessing the children bond as siblings.”
At the adoption day event, Robert met with the foster mom of the girls, and it was the first time in six months that these siblings saw each other again.
For Robert, keeping them apart was absolutely unacceptable.
“I understand how they feel,” the newfound father of five told. “I understand what they went through, so it really touched me. I was already thinking about adopting all of the kids but when I saw them crying, I was like, ‘Ok, I’m going to take all five to keep them together.’”
“Making memories to replace a lot of the bad ones,” he added. “Every night I talk to them and let them know, ‘I’m your dad forever. I know what it’s like and I’m always here for you.’
Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, there are more children than average who are waiting for a warm home, currently around four hundred. Five other children were also adopted on Adoption Day.
What an absolutely incredible dad and a heartwarming story!
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