TWO American dads have turned their household into a family of eight after adopting six neglected siblings who spent more than five years in foster care.
After surviving five years in foster care, six brothers and sisters have finally found their forever home with Pennsylvanian husbands Steve and Rob Anderson-McLean.
On May 23, 2019, Steve and Rob officially adopted Carlos, 14, Guadalupe, 13, Maria, 12, Selena, 10, Nasa, 9, and Max, 7.
Steve said: "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.
"We never imagined we'd be lucky enough or blessed enough to have six."
Steve and Rob, who have been together for nearly two decades, raised two sons together, Parker, 25 and Noah, 21, from a previous marriage.
The couple felt they “weren’t done” being parents when their boys had grown up, and began researching children in need across the United States.
It was then they came across a profile featuring the six siblings in need of a loving home.
Rob said: “We saw their picture and fell in love. 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.”
Steve and Rob were matched with the kids in June 2018 and the siblings went to live with them a month later. They’ve been together ever since.
Steve said: “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. That was all new to them. Having fun was new to them."
The two dads admit they were initially concerned with how the children would adjust to life with same-sex parents, but were quickly put at ease.
Steve said: “We thought with Carlos being a teen, he might have a hard time. But it has not bothered him one bit.”
Indeed, all six are just happy to be together with their two doting dads.
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