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Adopting at an older age gives life purpose, Liberty mom says
By Ed Runyan
WARREN
Kim Anderson of Liberty says reaching her 50s with two grown children who no longer lived at home was no reason to think about retirement or being alone.
So began “Life Part 2,” Anderson said.
So she went to Youngstown State University and earned a social work degree, then a job for Summit County Children Services and started serving as a foster parent through Trumbull County Children Services.
Over the past seven years, she has served as a foster parent to 20 children.
“My kids moved out, and I thought, ‘I need to fill this big house back up,’” she said. “Maybe it’s being single, but your life needs more purpose.”
She wasn’t thinking about adopting a child initially, but other foster parents advised her that she should become part of the foster-to-adopt program just in case she changed her mind.
“You never know what child will come up for adoption,” she said.
Then two years ago, she became foster parent to Jerry, only 3 months old, who weighed just 8 pounds.
“He is so laid back, easy going, funny,” Anderson said of the boy, who she adopted Friday during Adoption Day at the Trumbull County Courthouse. “He fit into the family. He belonged there.”
One thing that is nice about becoming a parent again at her age is that she had a grandson not too much different in age from her son.
“We took them both to Disney World in July,” Anderson said.
Anderson was not the only older parent who formalized an adoption this year. Keith and Theresa Easton of Champion adopted twin boys in April and participated in Friday’s Adoption Day.
Theresa, who is 50, said she and her husband have served as foster parents for Macarthur and Boaz since they were still in the hospital after being born.
The couple has been married for 10 years and found out they could not have children of their own.
“The good thing is age brings wisdom, but it also makes you tired,” Theresa said.
“We had a lot of help from family in the beginning,” she said. Macarthur was sick when he was born and needed a lot of medical care. He’s doing well now.
“They are as sweet as can be now,” she said.
The Noland family of Niles was adopting for the third time in two years Friday, having adopted Troy, 14, and Dominic, 11, in 2014, Christopher, 11, in August and Abigail, 7, on Friday.
Troy, Dominic and Abigail are biological brothers and sister.
They also have one biological son, Nathan, 13, for a total of five children.
MaryAnn Noland says Abigail was living with another family and came back into Children Services care.
“When we found out she was back into care, we called Children Services and said we wanted her in our home,” MaryAnn said of her and her husband, Doug.
Judge James Fredericka of Trumbull County Probate Court, which formally approves adoptions on the recommendation of Children Services, said adoptions are a “win, win for everyone.”
“These children now will have committed parents and a stable home. The adoptive families also benefit from adoption. They have the joy and blessing of adding a child to their family.
“And adoption fulfills the dreams we all have as children, of raising a child ... and to provide a loving home for the needy. And it benefits the court, because every adoption is such a rewarding and fulfilling experience. And it benefits CSB because it fulfills their mission to provide care and support for needy children.”
Trumbull CSB has 23 other children waiting to be adopted.