Dads Adopt a Family of 6 Siblings to Keep Them Together

Dads Adopt a Family of 6 Siblings to Keep Them Together Love transcends all limitations when souls intertwine deeply. For Pennsylvania residents Steve and Rob Anderson-McLean, what began as a heartfelt desire to assist children in need evolved into a captivating family narrative that profoundly transformed the lives of eight individuals. This journey of compassion and connection reshaped their lives and wove together a rich tapestry of hope, joy, and unity.

Forever Family 

Family connections often run deeper than blood. After spending 1,640 days cycling through foster homes, a group of brothers and sisters finally found a home with two loving dads who refused to let them be separated.

Steve and Rob Anderson-McLean officially welcomed Carlos (14), Guadalupe (13), Maria (12), Selena (10), Nasa (9), and Max (7) into their home through adoption in May 2019.

Both men decided based on their heartfelt belief that every child deserves a secure home. They saw an opportunity to keep a family unit intact and provide the affection these young ones desperately needed.

For five years, Carlos, Guadalupe, Maria, Selena, Nasa, and Max bounced between temporary homes, never knowing if they would remain united. Foster care systems frequently split up brothers and sisters due to placement challenges, adding trauma to youngsters already coping with family disruption.

Most foster families lack resources or space to accommodate multiple children, especially older ones. According to child welfare statistics, nearly 75% of sibling groups face separation during foster placements, with chances of reunification diminishing as years pass.

Steve explained, “In foster care, young kids are adopted very quickly. The kids that are nearing teenage years or are teenagers, unfortunately, they’re the harder kids to place. They had had some interest in just the younger two or three, but the case worker they had really wanted to try and keep them together.”

Anderson-McLeans recognized how brothers and sisters serve as emotional anchors during difficult times. Breaking those bonds seemed unthinkable as they began their adoption journey.

Love at First Sight 

Fate intervened in 2018 when Pennsylvania husbands discovered profiles of six brothers and sisters on an Ohio adoption website. Something clicked immediately.

Steve remembers, “We fell in love with them instantly. We fell in love with the pictures. Before we ever even met them, we had fallen totally in love with these six kids.”

Photos captured their hearts instantly. Family albums revealed remarkable bonds—Carlos with his arm protectively around his younger family members, Maria and Guadalupe holding hands in every picture, and Selena making sure Nasa and Max stayed close. From these images alone, prospective parents knew these youngsters belonged together.

Both men described an inexplicable pull toward these children—a feeling many adoptive parents recognize as knowing these were meant to be their children.

Child welfare agencies across states coordinated to facilitate this potential match, recognizing how rare it was to find parents willing to adopt six children simultaneously.

Agency staff seemed almost shocked when adoption applicants insisted on taking all six youngsters. Questions about managing such a large household came frequently, but would-be parents remained sure of their decision.

Their commitment only strengthened as they learned more about each child’s personality, interests, and struggles. Carlos loved science and protected his siblings fiercely. Guadalupe showed artistic talent. Maria excelled academically despite frequent school changes. Selena had a wonderful sense of humor. Nasa collected rocks and small treasures. Max, youngest of all, remained fearful of abandonment.

New Beginnings 

July 2018 marked day one of their journey as foster parents to all six children. Adjustments came with challenges, but joy prevailed.

Steve added, “There’s always a little bit of an awkward start there because you’re thinking potentially these could be the children that are going to be in our lives forever. And like I said, we were already involved with them. We hoped they liked us.”

The new family’s first week felt like organized chaos. Multiple bedrooms needed furnishing, school enrollments required completion, medical appointments filled their calendars, and grocery shopping became an expedition.

Morning routines resembled military operations. Bathroom schedules, breakfast preparation, lunch packing, and coordinating transportation required planning charts on refrigerator doors. Yet, despite all the logistics, magic happened almost immediately in their home.

Just one week after arriving, during an afternoon at a local park, Selena casually asked if they could stay always. Her question caught both adults off guard, bringing tears to their eyes.

The parents-to-be promised they would try their best. Foster care offered no guarantees, but their intentions remained clear from day one—they wanted all six youngsters to become an official part of their family.

Court proceedings moved slowly but steadily toward permanence. Both men attended parenting classes, home studies, and countless meetings with social workers while maintaining regular visitation with their children’s extended biological family members.

May 23, 2019, arrived with anticipation. Family court proceedings typically maintain formality, but Judge Maria Sanders made this adoption memorable. After signing final documents, she looked directly at all six children and declared, “From today forward, you belong to each other legally, permanently, and completely.”

Courtroom erupted with applause as bailiffs discreetly wiped tears. Social workers who followed their case for years hugged everyone. Photos captured tearful smiles as official adoption certificates received six small fingerprints alongside parental signatures.

Rob expressed, “There’s a lot of insecurity for kids in their situation. They’re always worried that something is going to change. Even though we tell them that we’re going to adopt them, and everyone’s telling them this, they’ve been let down so many times by other adults. So that’s why it was such a relief to finally have the finalization because they know it’s permanent. They’re not foster kids anymore. They can take that title away from their name.”

Legal proceedings finished in thirty minutes, but as Steve often notes, family building continues every day.

Family Background 

Before becoming parents to six, Steve and Rob built lives grounded in commitment. Together for nearly twenty years, they held a commitment ceremony in 2006 and legally married in Maryland in 2013 when same-sex marriage became recognized.

Steve brought two sons from a previous marriage—Parker and Noah—who had since grown into young adults aged 25 and 21 respectively. Both young men fully supported expanding their family through adoption. Steve reflected, “I think we’ve always known that we wanted to expand our family and continue on being parents. We always kind of say that we weren’t done yet being parents to young people.”

Parker called them crazy but in best possible ways. He visited weekly, bringing video games and basketball equipment for his new brothers and sisters, immediately embracing his expanded family role.

Noah, attending college out of state, scheduled regular video calls and planned extended visits during academic breaks. “My brothers and sisters gained six awesome uncles,” Carlos proudly told classmates, referring to his dads’ wide circle of supportive friends.

Empty nesting prompted conversations about next chapters in their lives. While many couples their age planned retirement or travel, Steve and Rob felt called toward parenthood again. “Our home felt quiet,” Steve explained. “Rooms stood empty. Capacity for loving children remained abundant.”

Their careers offered flexibility—Steve managed real estate properties while Rob worked in healthcare administration. Both arranged schedules to accommodate family needs, with Rob shifting to remote work three days weekly.

Financial planning preceded adoption decisions. College funds needed to be established, health insurance required upgrades, and vehicle size necessitated increases. Friends questioned practicality, but determination prevailed.

Path to Adoption

The initial inspiration came unexpectedly from a television documentary about sibling adoptions. Research revealed disturbing statistics about sibling separations and their psychological impacts. Children separated during foster care often experience higher rates of emotional difficulties and identity struggles.

After learning these facts, single-child adoption seemed insufficient. Multiple agencies provided information about waiting children, mainly older siblings overlooked by families seeking infants.

Agency databases consistently listed Carlos, Guadalupe, Maria, Selena, Nasa, and Max – six siblings removed from their biological parents in 2017 due to neglect. Medical records, educational assessments, and psychological evaluations painted a challenging picture, but in-person visits revealed remarkable resilience.

Meetings progressed gradually from supervised visits to overnight stays. Carlos, as oldest, approached adoption cautiously while carrying responsibility for protecting his siblings. Both men worried about the teenage response to same-sex parents, but Carlos adjusted seamlessly, concerned only with keeping his family together.

Healing Through Love

Structured routines provided security while activities created bonding opportunities. Friday trampoline park visits became sacred family time. Most children had never experienced simple pleasures like zoo visits or park outings.

Each child adjusted differently. Maria adapted quickly to school, Guadalupe progressed in speech therapy, Selena showed artistic talents, Nasa developed an interest in science, and Max struggled most with security fears.

Young Max worried about “getting unadopted” if he made mistakes. Visual reminders like adoption certificates and family photos helped reassure the children. Carlos faced identity challenges, transitioning from “foster kid” to “son.”

Therapy supported healing both individually and as a family. School adjustments progressed with teachers receiving appropriate background information, while advocates ensured educational support addressed previous gaps.