A Pennsylvania couple did not hesitate when they got the opportunity to adopt six brothers and sisters. After spending nearly five years (1,640 days) in the foster care system Steve and Rob Anderson-McLean finally presented Carlos, 14, Guadalupe, 13, Maria, 12, Selena, 10, Nasa, 9, and Max, 7, with their forever home.
On May 23, 2019, the couple, who has been together for almost two decades made their special decision official in Judge Joseph K. Williams’ Pittsburgh courtroom. “The judge asked, ‘Do you understand at this point forward they are your children? They are just as much as your biological children.’ Obviously, we knew that, but when I looked up and saw all those eyes, it was very emotional,” recalled Steve, who has sons Parker, 25, and Noah, 21 from a previous marriage and parents them alongside Rob.
“We never imagined we’d be lucky enough or blessed enough to have six,” he told Good Morning America. Meanwhile, Rob told the outlet, “I’d say our kids have brought a great kind of crazy to our lives. It’s heartwarming and so exciting to see how they connect with us and our extended family and friends.”
Two dads adopt 6 siblings who spent nearly 5 years in foster care: 'We instantly fell in love' | GMA https://t.co/IdyG4dvsk7
— Claude Taylor (@TrueFactsStated) June 2, 2019
Steve and Rob, who has been together for 18 years, celebrated a commitment ceremony in 2006 and were legally married in Maryland in 2013. After raising Parker and Noah together, the pair knew they “weren’t done” being parents and thus they began exploring adoption. This is when they stumbled upon a siblings’ story on TV and how there were adopted by a couple who helped rebuild them.
The couple began looking for siblings who were in need of a home and the six were featured on a website in Ohio state. “We saw their picture and fell in love,” said 47-year-old Rob. “So many sibling groups are broken up because people just want to adopt the younger children. Steve and I knew these guys needed to be together.” In July 2018, the kids came to live with the couple.
“After the first week, they were asking if they could stay forever. We took them to the park and to the zoo. We played in the yard,” recalled Steve, 48. “That was all new to them. “Having fun was new to them.” The official adoption ceremony allowed the kids to feel at ease. “They had been let down by adults so many times in their life, and were nervous it wasn’t going to happen,” explained Steve according to TODAY.
Apparently, they were a little worried about Carlos adjusting to their home. “We thought with Carlos being a teen, he might have a hard time, but it has not bothered him one bit,” noted a happy Steve. “I’m not a foster kid anymore. I don’t have to carry that title around. I finally have a real family,” expressed the teenager.
“We feel so lucky,” said Rob reflecting on the happiness that has been brought on by their latest addition to their family. “The other night, Max, our 7-year-old, looks at me and goes, ‘I’m adopted,'” shared Steve. “I nodded and he said, ‘You can’t get unadopted right?’ And I had to reassure him that he will always be our son,” he shared.
Cover image source: YouTube Screenshot | Today
