Meet the Rosenberg Family!
“You would be hard pressed to find another family so perfectly matched.”
Within just four years of marriage, Evan and Heather Rosenberg have lovingly cared for 13 foster babies. The couple was able to adopt their second foster child, Warren, now age 2.
The Rosenbergs’ journey into foster care and adoption is especially remarkable in light of Heather’s previous view of motherhood. Having come from an abusive background herself, and having had all her younger siblings placed into foster care, Heather determined early on that marriage and parenthood were not for her. All that changed when she met Evan. “I finally realized that I did not have to repeat my mother’s mistakes. Somewhere along the line, a switch got activated, and I wanted to be Evan’s wife and have a family with him.”
When biology did not work in their favor, the couple at first considered traditional adoption. As recent college graduates with student loans to pay, they found the high cost of private adoptions discouraging. Through attending “MAPP” (Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting) classes, they became more aware of the need for foster families. The Rosenbergs decided to build their family through that route.
The agency had repeatedly emphasized the unlikelihood of the Rosenbergs’ receiving a baby. Imagine their surprise when, 4 days after their license was approved, they were asked to take a newborn girl. “We were a wreck! Neither of us knew how to care for an infant. Friends had to tell us what to go buy from the store for a baby!”
Foster families who hope to adopt often face disappointments. The Rosenbergs were heartbroken when, after 3 months, the little girl’s parents chose a different adoptive family. Naturally, they were nervous the second time around when newborn Warren came to them.
Heather laughingly recalls, “At least we had some experience under our belt about what to do – but every day past the 3-month mark, we were in totally new territory – so we were once again bumbling idiots.” The agency must have noted love and skills that surpassed their lack of experience because it continued to place babies into the Rosenbergs’ care – 9 during the 2 years before Warren’s adoption was finalized, and 2 since.
The family now consists of Warren, Christopher, and Elie. The once “I’ll never have children” Heather now lovingly dotes over every moment with their children. “Our children constantly amaze us – Warren with his whacky questions (Mommy, do they turn off the ocean at night?) – and Christopher learning how to roll over only to find that he preferred being in the previous position.”
Valuing family connections, the Rosenbergs regret the lack of information about Warren’s 3 older siblings who are adopted. They intend to help Warren locate them when he is older if he so desires. Heather and Evan succeeded with a different connection - the family who adopted their first foster baby stays in touch with them.
The Rosenbergs intend to use part of the Federal Adoption Tax Credit to contribute to Warren’s college fund. Adoption Assistance will enable them to choose schools best suited to meet their son’s needs, especially as related to potential challenges due to mental illness in the birth family and prenatal drug and alcohol exposure.
In summarizing their foster-adoption journey, Heather states, “My family may have been pieced together with children that did not issue from my womb, but you would be hard pressed to find another family who is so perfectly matched.”
