Meet the Dahlin Family!

We are currently a family of nine. We have two children who came to us via birth, three children adopted from foster care, and two foster children who have lived with us for over a year. (We have been foster parents for over a decade.) Our kids range in ages from 3 to 13 years old.  

Through our adoption journey we became a transracial family, as well a special needs family. While all of this was new to us, we have embraced all that is needed to advocate for and support our children.   

Getting to our adoption celebration was a long journey, involving years of ups and downs, and uncertainty. We have so much appreciation for all of the educational professionals; state workers, judges, attorneys, advocates, and therapists, who spent years assisting our kids. 

Being foster parents first meant loving our children, knowing they could leave forever at any point.  At our adoption hearing, sitting in the familiar court room where we had spent so many hours watching our children’s case unfold, we knew this time we would leave as an official family, and we could all breathe a little easier. 

After spending years as an adoptive family and building relationships with other adoptive families, we see a commonality of trauma response that stems from their adoptions. No matter how happy the ending, adoption stems from loss. It is our responsibility as their adoptive family to dive into resources, research, counseling, and other networks to help our kids navigate their story as they grow into adulthood.  

The biggest benefit I could advocate for the federal government to act on would be making the Federal Adoption Tax Credit refundable. Most adoptive families don’t make enough money to fully use up the credit in a reasonable time, especially if adopting more than one child.  Making that money refundable would open up a much needed financial support for families. 

Our family is blessed to have several kids who have various special needs. We celebrate who they are and the strengths they have. We also have a better understanding of what they need to be their best selves. After adoption we created an environment that would help them thrive. We recently moved to a farm where our kids can get some sensory needs met in nature. The mellow environment helps them to focus on getting through their day with regulated emotions and growing self-confidence.  

Adopting kids with a history of trauma is hard work, but it is the most life-changing, rewarding privileges I will ever have. We are helping shape the future by diving deep into the needs of our most vulnerable children.  

Our children also have positive views on adoption. They comment:

“Being adopted means I am special.” daughter, age 10  

“Adoption means having a family who will love you no matter what.” son, age 10

“Adoption means we can be together and be kind.” son, age 9 

“Adoption has taught me to show love to people from all walks of life.” daughter, age 13

“Adoption has helped me show grace to others.” daughter, age 11