November 28, 2011

New Mexico Attorney Adopts Sextet of Siblings

As we hit the end of National Adoption Month, there are lots of reminders that adoption gives us much to be thankful for. (How fitting that this celebration falls in the same month as Thanksgiving!) We’ve been enjoying reading all the stories about mass adoptions, and people banding together to give homes to as many children as possible, but one story we recently read really hit our heart strings. On November 18 (the day before National Adoption Day), New Mexico attorney Richard Austin adopted a sextet of siblings that he had been fostering for the past six months.

What’s so incredible about this situation is Austin’s commitment to keep an entire family together. Often times with foster care, siblings are split up — shuffled around separately to different homes, or even different states. The most important part about the adoption and foster care worlds is the necessity of creating and supporting the notion of family. For Austin, this was a no-brainer.

“After seeing how happy they were together it was important not to split them up,” Austin said, reported in The Republic. “The likelihood of their being adopted as a group was pretty remote, and would most likely require them moving out state. This way they get to stay together and be near their biological family.”

Austin is a single father who has another adopted son. All of the children agree that he is a wonderful father, and one of the best things to happen in their lives. “I have been with him for 12 years,” Michael said (his 19 year old adopted son) in the article. “I think I turned out all right so far. He’s a good dad and one of the greatest people I’ve met in my life.”

What a perfect way to commemorate National Adoption Month. It makes us so proud of be a part of this community!