When most of us look back on our childhood, we are mostly filled with fond memories. We look back and see all of the love and support of our family and friends, and particularly the unending love and mercy of our parents.
Sadly, though, not every child is brought up in the way should be.
Unfortunately, there are children who suffer every day. Children who don’t have a warm meal every day, who rarely go to school, who have been deprived of the hugs they needed, and who wish their life was better.
Heartbreakingly, many such kids end up being placed in foster care.
In fact, in 2020 there were more than 420,000 children in foster care, with a median age of 6.5 years old.
These children can have one of two fates: they either go from one foster family to the other until they age out of the system, or they are lucky enough to be officially adopted.
Children who age out of the foster system have been found to have fewer job opportunities, lower-income, and even end up homeless.
Needless to say, the outcome isn’t always glamorous.
On the other hand, the children that get adopted have a second chance in life.
Just like the seven siblings in this story, who were all adopted by the same family.
The seven brothers and sisters- aged between 9 and 15 years old- were eventually adopted all together after more than 1000 days in foster care, and they couldn’t be more excited about it!
Michael and Terri Hawthorn of Hot Springs, Arkansas, already had two biological children, when they decided to adopt two siblings in April 2018.
Meanwhile, they had been fostering on and off two twins coming from another family.
“I told my wife after a couple of days of them being here that I was in trouble–they kept saying they loved us and were calling us mom and dad,” Hawthorn told Good Morning America.
In 2017, the twins were moved to another foster home to be with their siblings, but the Hawthorns just couldn’t imagine their life without them. So, they contacted Arkansas State Sen. Alan Clark and asked for help.
“You see them together, I would’ve fallen in love with the kids too,” Clark said. “Michael and Terri are just wonderful people and even their grown daughter has come home to help and it’s a real blessing for all who are concerned.”
It was time for a huge step. Michael and Terri were determined to adopt the twins along with their five siblings! And with Clark’s help, they did.
In December 2018, the seven siblings officially became members of the Hawthorn family.
And the way they speak about their new parents says it all.
“Before we had bugs in our food,” one of the children says, “now we don’t. Before we had torn up clothes, now we have perfectly good clothes.”
The girls love the fact that they have now lots of bows to wear and that they are always busy with fun activities. Bottom line?
“I know I’m safe,” one of the adopted children says, “that’s a huge change from where we were. We didn’t have parents who loved us. We kind of cherish family.”
Learn more about the Hawthorne’s heartwarming story in the video below!
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