There’s no question that it takes someone with a huge heart to foster children. But it takes someone with an even bigger heart to adopt them. When it comes to adoption, a lot of individuals and couples automatically look for an infant or toddler.
But in one story that’s now gone viral with more than 1.3 million views, a woman had a different opinion. She felt a special calling to help kids in foster care. What she did went beyond what most people would do.
From an adoptee’s perspective
At the start of this video, you hear a young man by the name of Shantell say that as kids get older in the foster care system, they don’t believe anyone will ever adopt them. As mentioned, most people gravitate to infants and toddlers. But the fact is that there are more older children who want nothing more than a real family and home.
Chris shares his feelings
Then, a second young man named Chris shares how for a long time, he felt super uncomfortable when he’d find himself in a foster home that wasn’t working out. He would have to be brave enough to tell his social worker that it wasn’t a good fit. For him, that was extremely difficult and sad.
Sharon enters the picture
Sharon was someone who felt drawn to both Shantell and Chris. She had strong empathy and compassion for them, knowing they’d been through a lot. But instead of becoming yet another foster parent, she adopted them.
Teaching them about love and acceptance
As Sharon explained, she wanted to show them what it was like to be in a family, a real family. She also wanted to show them what it felt like to have someone in their lives who cared for them and would back them up. She was 100 percent dedicated to changing their lives.
Fight or flight
In the video, you hear Shantell admit that he gave his adoptive mother a hard time. When challenges arose, his initial response was to flee. But Sharon would calmly walk him through the problem.
Patience and understanding
He went on to share that just having someone there who was patient and understanding made all the difference in the world. Because of his past, Shantell was an angry child. But slowly, he began to realize that his mom truly loved him.
Learning to trust
Chris had a difficult time trusting. But he said that over time, he too began to realize that Sharon’s love was unconditional. Even when things got tough, she was invested in their lives and futures.
A third young man
The third teenager that Sharon adopted is named Lex. He stated that at first, he hated his new mom. But by her attending all of his games and giving him her full support, it wasn’t long before he had a revelation, as well.
Facing challenges head-on
Sharon stated that over the years, they faced a lot of challenges. But with her unwavering support and the boys learning to trust, things began to come together. Today, all three of these guys are doing great and have a productive role in society.
A word of encouragement
Toward the end of the video, Sharon encourages people who want to adopt to not automatically overlook the teenagers. Yes, it’s not always easy. But in the end, it’s incredibly rewarding.
If you like feel-good stories, this is one you don’t want to miss. To learn more about this mom and her sons, click on the video below. It’s worth your time to watch.
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Source: AASK Arizona, Together We Rise
