A Cincinnati man has adopted five siblings so they can all stay together according to WSVN. Robert Carter started fostering three boys, Robert Jr., Givoanni and Kiontae. Once he took in the three boys he found out they had two sisters, Marionna and Makayla. The girls were also in the foster system and they had been separated from their brothers for six months. Carter spoke candidly about the moment he realized he would have to take them all in.
“We met up for visits, and all the kids were crying. They didn’t want to leave each other, and at that moment, I knew, ok, I have to adopt all five,” Carter told the news station. Carter who grew up in foster care says he knows the system well and all its complexities and how hard it can be on children who’re separated.
“My mom had nine kids, and I didn’t see my youngest [sibling]. 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,” Carter said.
Carter started the adoption process for the children, getting a bigger home and making it official on October 30th. Stacy Barton, the adoption case manager of the case spoke about Carter says she knew it was a good fit for the children.
“I’ve never had a single father adopt five children. I’ve had married couples who have adopted six or seven, so this was a unique experience for me. Children need families, and it’s an opportunity for Mr. Carter to show the community that he can do it, and others can, too,” Barton said.
The now single father of five says he’s just happy to have all the children together.
“I’m just happy that it’s over, and I’m their dad for the rest of their life, and they know that they’ll never have to go through what they went through again,” Carter said.
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