November 29, 2025 • 43 mins
Adopted together. Growing up together. Sharing their story together.
In this bonus episode, siblings Laura, Kim, and Dan reflect on entering foster care, being adopted as a group, and what they want families to know about saying yes to siblings.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:05):
We really should have waiting parents, not waiting children.
Over 100,000 children are available for adoption through
the US foster care system, and 27% don't have anyone like a
relative or foster parent in theprocess of adopting them. 60%
are between the ages of five and17, and 2/3 are part of sibling
groups of two to eight children.Hey listener, my name is Marcy
(00:27):
Bursack. My husband and I chose Adoption
is our Plan A. After blogging about our journey
adopting A sibling pair, I beganmentoring families right in my
own living room. That passion grew into the
Forgotten Adoption Option, a nonprofit and now lead as a
volunteer while working full time in the tech industry.
From my blog, Three Books app, and Classroom Lesson, to now a
45 minute course called Foster Care Adoption Simplified, which
(00:50):
you can find at forgottenadoptionoption.com,
I've created practical, heartfelt resources to help
families navigate the foster care adoption process.
As you listen to this episode, Iencourage you to ask yourself,
who in my circle needs to hear this?
It's often people in what we call helper professions.
People like therapists, nurses, doctors, police officers,
(01:11):
firefighters, social workers, and teachers like my husband.
These are the people who tend tostep forward to adopt children
from foster care. But this work isn't only about
becoming an adoptive family. It's also about becoming an
advocate and ally. Every waiting child deserves not
just a forever family, but a community of people who champion
their future. Whatever LED you to this
(01:33):
podcast, I am thrilled that you were here.
My mission is simple, to help every waiting child be with
their forever family. And that's exactly why I host
this podcast. Welcome to the Forgotten
Adoption Option podcast. In today's episode, we're
talking about something incredibly meaningful, what it's
(01:55):
like to be adopted as part of a sibling group.
A sibling group simply means twoor more children placed
together. And in this episode we have all
three siblings who were adopted together.
And Speaking of three, this whole episode started because
it's something that happened three years ago for
Thanksgiving. My husband and I decided we are
not going to spend Thanksgiving and likely the entire day and
(02:16):
night before in our kitchen, food for hours and then doing a
mountain of dishes on our day off work.
So somehow we learned a local restaurant was offering to cook
a family feast for us and all we'd have to do is pick it up
between 10:00 and 2:00 for Thanksgiving.
So here we are. Hi, Laura, Kim and Dan.
Hi. Marcy.
So Laura Menemeyer, the eldest sibling, is the owner of
Hendrick's BBQ. Each year she and I have had a
(02:39):
phone call where she helps me feel incredibly confident about
the portions I order, ensuring we account for if I want
leftovers or not. So we literally go by how much
extra do you want, How many people are at the table?
It's just something we've talkedabout all three years and
something that's really stood out to me is her tone and
demeanor. She literally like you can feel
the joy of her excitement and preparing the meal for our
family. It's the sweetest thing.
(03:00):
So Kim, the youngest sister, also works the restaurant as a
bartender and server. And Dan, their brother, rounds
up this incredible sibling trio.This year, when Laura called to
confirm my Thanksgiving order, our conversation took an
unexpected and emotional turn, one that had me teary eyed while
fumbling to get my debit card information to pay for the
order. And that's what's led to this
bonus episode. So Laura, let's start with you.
(03:22):
What was on your heart the day you called me about the
Thanksgiving order? Well, to be very honest with
you, I was feeling a little bad about the back and forth like we
had like you had emailed and then it was a couple of days
before we like solidified it. So I was like, let me get on the
phone with her myself and make sure that I get this done.
I was not feeling that at all. Well.
I realized that I did realize that, but the manager that was
(03:44):
working on the order was like, hey, call her.
Especially if I talk to someone who's literally talked to Kelly
Clarkson before, which she knowsI'm a huge fan because.
You saw my emails. Because I saw e-mail signature,
yes. And so I got on the phone with
you and was like, hey, I have totell you, I'm adopted.
And then it went from there. The stories were shared and
conversations were had, and thenThanksgiving was paid for, and
(04:05):
then the podcast was scheduled, which was pretty.
Well, because I remember as we were talking, you were like, oh,
I wanted to share with you. I'm adopted.
And I never know when someone shares if that's like, oh, I was
adopted as a baby or, oh, I was adopted through like, an
intercountry adoption. And then you were like, oh, I
was adopted through foster care.And I was like, oh, OK, well,
how old are you? And so then it was just this
incredible thing as my husband and I adopted siblings
ourselves. I was like, you, you have two
(04:25):
other siblings and you're still together, which is so beautiful.
And so you told me that you wereall placed in foster care
together. And so, Laura, maybe you can
start off. How old were you when you
entered into the foster care system?
I was 7, seven years old, and then it was in the summertime
and my birthday's in August, so I was just about to turn 8 when
we were first placed in foster care, I was 4.
(04:48):
And I was 6. We're really close in age.
Yeah, we are. It's like a lot.
For someone to say yes to. And so Laura, I remember asking
you how old you were when you got adopted.
Can you walk us through how old you were kind of when you
entered care and then I know it sounds like you all were
somewhere for like an evening, yes.
And then you moved. So what was that like for you
(05:09):
and maybe Kim and Daniel, if youguys want to add anything to
that as well? Sure.
So we were placed in an emergency care overnight and
then the next day we're placed with our foster family who did
eventually adopt us a couple of years later.
So seven years old going into the system.
I was 10 when we were. Officially adopted, but you
(05:31):
lived with the same family the whole time, right?
So you were with them for multiple years.
Yeah, OK. Yeah, all three of us.
We went through the process through the DFS office and here
in Saint Charles. So that's why it took two years
because that is their limit on how long you can be in the
system before you're available for adoption.
(05:53):
So they tried reunification withour biological family.
So after several attempts, it did not work.
So our foster family eventually adopted us as soon as we were
eligible for adoption. So you're in children's division
and for those who might be listening to anywhere in the
country, so yeah, we're in the same county, which is super cool
(06:13):
and it's interesting. So you're now adoptive parents
go from zero to three kids overnight.
And for me, we went from zero to2.
So like that, that was a big shift.
But I can only imagine what it'slike to have three that are all
together. And I wonder, Laura, like what
do you remember being aware of? Was it the middle of the night
when you all were taken? And like how did like what do
(06:35):
you remember from like how that 48 hours of your life?
It was not the middle of the night we were first taken
because no, it wasn't because DFS came.
We were at Mary's house playing in the front yard and the police
came and took us. It was overnight before we were
placed. I remember being at the police
station at night time. Grandma was there and then and
she was really angry, like she'sso mad at me.
(06:56):
And then we were placed at the emergency stop.
I don't know what your guys memories are of that, but I
remember being like in the frontyard when the social workers
like I remember what she looks like.
I remember the police coming that day and then by that
evening we were in. So I remember being woken up by
(07:17):
our babysitter. We were sleeping on the floor in
her room kind of in her closet and she's our babysitter was
crying and and she took us outside and told she supposed to
put our clothes on, took us outside and there were cops
there. The lights were on and.
(07:37):
Me and Danny got to ride in the back of a cop car.
We thought it was the coolest thing ever.
It was. But we had no idea what was
going on. I was honestly, I was scared.
We got to the police station. Nobody would tell me anything,
you know, I didn't understand what was going on or why, why we
were there. I thought I was in trouble.
You know. So is Mary the babysitter and is
she at your home or are you at her place?
(07:59):
We were at her place. Oh wow, and where did you ride
in in the car? I think I was taken first
because I was interviewed about things that were happening that
I actually that the babysitter or babysitter's friend ended up
like hotlining. So I think that's why I was
there, because I remember being at the police station for a long
(08:19):
time. You were already there at the
PlayStation when we got there because and I thought you had
gotten grabbed from school. I didn't know that you were at
Mary's too. So hey, we're all learning
things today. It.
Was July. Oh, that's right.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I was so. I was so young.
So I know when you hotline it's supposed to be totally anonymous
and so why is is grandma mad because she knew that you said
(08:41):
something? I think so it was a sexual abuse
situation with her son, so who was living in the house and so
which was not the first time that that happened.
So I think she was like kind of in denial and didn't want to
believe that it was happening. And the fact that I had told
someone about it, like that's probably a podcast episode for a
(09:02):
different day, but she was, I think that's what she was upset
about. And, but also at the time, I
didn't realize the consequences of having that conversation and
like what was going to happen after being interviewed by
police and stuff like that. I didn't even, I didn't know
that's what happened next. You know, I did not know at the
time who did the hotlining. I didn't find that out until way
(09:23):
into my adult years. Like I didn't even know that
that because it was Mary's friend Melissa is what our bio
mom told us much later. But so then I guess that night
we all end up at the police station and then placed into an
emergency care home overnight. And then they were telling me
that that we went to daycare thenext day, which I don't have any
(09:45):
memory of. So I'm going to turn that over
to Danny. Yeah, I don't really remember
much from the daycare either. I remember is being really
confused that I was in a place that I've never been before,
surrounded by kids that I've never seen before.
So yeah, I'm gonna like Kimberly, talk about this one.
It's crazy because this is a core memory for me guys, where
(10:06):
we went to this daycare and I remember them separating me from
my brother and sister because I was younger.
So I had to go with the younger kids.
And I just remember there being a really tall wall and they were
on the other side of that wall, but I was not allowed to go over
there. And I remember just being
devastated. Like I just got uprooted from my
life. Went to live with you, went to
stay the night with you strangers, went to a daycare the
(10:28):
next day and I couldn't be with my brother and sister.
And that was traumatic for me. So yeah, that's what I remember
about that daycare. Were you all really?
Close as young kids. Yes, we were grouped together
constantly. I mean, we went from OK foster
care. Our parents were unstable, to
say the least. So we were, you know, moved
around, grouped together, you know, stay at this friend's
(10:48):
house, Stay. Stay in the car for hours at a
time. Who knows?
You know, So it was always just us three.
Yeah. Oh, my God, the crisis.
I remember those two like I havea lot of memories from like that
time. And I think if you're from
another state than Missouri, thecrisis nursery allows kids can
be electively dropped off there or it's kind of like a holding
(11:10):
place. Actually used to volunteer at
one when I was in high school. But it's essentially just like a
safe haven for kids while the parents need to go to an
appointment or kind of work on themselves or anything in
between. We were.
The only thing that was consistent was the three of us
even before getting placed in the foster care, so.
The fact that we were allowed tostay together, I think is
(11:30):
probably what this kept us alivefrom what we had talked about
before we started recording. You weren't at that preschool
before being in foster care, so did you stay there?
Did the kids know you were in foster?
How did that all kind of work for your environment?
So that was just like a one day thing.
We're only there for the one day.
So, you know, with any kids, youknow, after your initial like
(11:51):
cry it out, then you start to play with the other kids.
And that's what I remember doing.
I started playing with one of the other girls until, you know,
like the teacher wanted to introduce me to the class.
And I remember she was trying to, she was trying.
I remember she was trying to like, like have me stand in a
weird way, like next to her, like too close to her.
And I kept pushing off because Ididn't want to be that close.
And she kept pulling me back. And it wasn't anything like
(12:12):
nefarious, but like as a kid, I'm like, stop touching me.
So I remember that being really awkward.
And then there was another girl who was just like, come ride
this big wheel with me. And then it was all good for the
rest of the day. I don't know how much of this
you're going to put in there 'cause it's a long story, but
yeah. So then after that, we went to,
that's when we went to the Val was our caseworker.
(12:33):
Love her. Just saw her a couple months ago
when she came into Hendricks andwe're like Laura, is that Val?
She's like that is Val like what's that Val?
So anyway, she was amazing, amazing caseworker.
And so I remember she had a convertible.
So we got a ride in her car to the DOS office and that's when
we met our now adoptive parents for the first time.
(12:57):
And I remember bawling my eyes out and my and, you know, my mom
been like, what? I don't know what to do with
this. She's like, you're going to make
yourself sick. It's OK Calm down.
I'm just like crying for days. I don't even remember.
So whenever we left the daycare and got to the DFS office, I
(13:19):
don't I didn't I didn't say a word like I was quiet the whole
time. I said hi to Dale.
I remember when we got to their house, first thing I did was
fall asleep on the couch and I slept for hours.
Like like the whole. Next, the.
Whole. Yeah, until the next day, yeah.
The neighbors came over and momsbecause we're in a pretty small
(13:39):
town so the neighbors know each other.
I do remember meeting Wally and Vicki that day and didn't mean
anything to me at the time, but now that I'm thinking back, I do
remember you falling asleep on the couch and Wally and Vicki
coming over. We had spaghetti for dinner.
What were there? Meatballs.
Garlic. Bread like ground beef spaghetti
and it was like my mom used to get recipes like sprinkle sugar
in it, which is like. Not a secret.
(14:01):
Not a secret at the time, it was, it was definitely different
for us. But I do remember having a Spani
the first time the first night there.
And I do remember you sleeping all the time.
And it was pretty emotional because we just wanted to go
home. We didn't know, you know, we
didn't know what's happening. We just wanted to go home
because we were just like uprooted from our entire
everything we knew. Did they tell you this will be
temporary or how long? Did they give you any guidance?
(14:23):
On kids that we, we did know it was going to be temporary
because like the whole goal was to go back home was like to get
you know, and then we went into physics at the DFS office and
then we even got to the point with, with our biological mom,
not our dad. We got to the point where he was
spending weekends with her, but she could not maintain all the
(14:45):
things that she should do to letus live with her.
So eventually after the time period passed, the parental
rights were terminated and then we were up for adoption.
And I don't even know if my parents even second guessed.
You know, I think they probably intended to do that from before
the parental rights are terminated.
I'm not entirely sure, but I think so.
(15:07):
A couple follow-ups. So I know that when children are
placed in care they often look to immediate families like
aunts, uncles, grandparents first.
But that didn't happen for you all.
So most of our family had a history.
So those weren't good choices. Yeah, they weren't.
They weren't really good choices.
The only one that was really available was in the Army, so he
(15:28):
wasn't available either. So you're meeting a bunch of new
people, you're with this kind ofovernight place, and then you're
moving in with a family and you,from what I remember you all
sharing, you were like the firstkids that they had had maybe.
So what was the bedroom setup like?
Like how are they ready? Because I'm like, that's just a
lot. They were originally told that
(15:48):
they were getting 2 girls. They got to the DFS office and
it was all three of us. And they're like, well, they're,
you know, they're angels. So they're like, well we're
going to take all of them. Obviously, like they they were
surprised, but they made do withwhat they could to keep us all
together, which was nice. I remember turning.
The back of the. Kitchen into a bedroom for
Danny, I think probably because we were required to have
(16:09):
separate rooms. Yeah.
And girls, yeah. So they it.
Was a temporary mattress in the back of the kitchen situation
and so the addition to the house.
Listeners, I know that we often talk about, you know, how do you
prepare your home for things like this?
And it's not uncommon. I know my own situation, we
renovated some space and made itso we could have a bedroom, 2 of
(16:30):
them separate. So if we had both genders, which
we do. And so that's just kind of part
of how this all works out, whichis beautiful.
I love that they were like, we're going to say yes to all
three. We're going to make this work.
I am curious. So I have a book that just came
out called It's OK to Talk AboutAdoption.
And the goal is to really make adoption a normal conversation.
And it doesn't mean tell everyone everything.
It means, you know, to those that it feels comfortable.
(16:51):
Laura, I remember you mentioningon the phone when you're doing
the order that you're like, yeah, like, you know, like
you're like in the club, like, you understand how this works.
And so we just, like, openly have this dialogue.
And I'm curious as you were growing up, you all are old
enough to know that like you lived with a very different
family first, but how open was that growing up?
And like, did you ever talk about it at school or I would
just love to hear, like, what was your childhood like in terms
(17:12):
of being able to talk about yourexperience?
I didn't talk about it ever. Ever.
It was very open in our family, within our family, like, you
know, our, we obviously we had awhole like Christmas celebration
whenever it was announced that we were going to be adopted,
like the whole family was. So the neighbors were there.
Everybody was like, it was like a whole celebration for when we
got adopted. So like we made it a big deal.
(17:35):
Like within the family for me atschool, I was always very open
about it. And like one thing that was
crucial with like growing up is meeting other kids who are also
in foster care. So like there's one girl who I'm
still friends with today. She's actually adopted from
Guatemala. So completely different story,
but like we bonded in kindergarten because we were
both adopted, you know, like, solike being able to, to be open
(17:58):
about it and like knowing other kids, it was huge.
And then we did the, the foster care picnics and stuff like that
where they had held events for like those I think made a huge
impact on me as a kid. Because just knowing that
there's other kids who've been through these things, you know,
who've been through the same things that I have been through,
and just being surrounded by peers who get it, that was
(18:22):
really crucial, I think, in justmy overall mental stability
growing up. Yeah, I think those foster care
picnics definitely made me feel more comfortable about where I
was because there were people inmy class that I'd never knew
were also, you know, in foster care or have been adopted, you
(18:44):
know, And it just made me feel more comfortable in school that
there are people that are, you know, in the same situation that
I was in. For me school I was pretty open
about it too. I don't remember trying to hide
it or not talk about it. And I even remember teachers
being aware because I would haveto get pulled out for court
dates and stuff like that for like situations.
(19:06):
And then I remember probably a little bit after we were adopted
because we, they announced our adoption in December at
Christmas time, like you said. And then I know it wasn't going
to be finalized, but we were to start school the next.
Was it the next semester or the next year?
But we started the next, I thinkthe next year at school, which
(19:26):
would have been 4th grade for me.
Third grade, I don't know, thirdgrade, 3rd grade, yes.
And we started the school year under our new last name, even
though it hadn't officially beenchanged yet.
We did the same thing cuz we weren't.
Yeah, it was just easier. Yeah, so I remember my second
grade teacher like, I'm me goingto her classroom because she was
(19:47):
there, like in need, I don't know, helping in the classroom
or something. And her name was Miss Brinkman.
I love her, Still love her. She was like, this is Laura
Callison. And I was like, Nope.
She's like Minamire, are you adopted?
Like, so it was like it was. No, Yeah, it also that teacher
also went to the same high school as my dad.
So like my adopted dad, because it's Orchard Farm High School,
(20:09):
which is very small, so it was kind of cool.
So I do remember being pretty open about it with friends and
with teachers. So classmates.
Knew your last name changed and it was just a normal yeah thing,
yeah. So, Laura Fast.
Forward Before we go into your career with being a business
owner, restaurant owner, your sister had mentioned that your
social worker she comes as a customer it.
(20:29):
Was like a very quick conversation, like hi, Oh my
gosh, you Remember Me. And she's like, Oh my God, I do,
you know, So I didn't really getinto what she's doing now, but
I'm sure she'll, I'm sure I'll see her again if she's still
local here, Yeah. So Laura, how on earth did you
go from childhood Fast forward, an iron adult running a
business, a successful one. I mean, I run the trail that's
(20:50):
right behind your business. I see your sign.
I'm very aware that you're here.We're three years in for
Thanksgiving. What led you to go into barbecue
of all things, too? So kind of a long, interesting
story, but right after high school, or even during high
school, I started working in a restaurant.
So I've just been. It was the menu.
Was it BBQ? No, it was not.
It was a casual chain restaurant.
(21:11):
It was O'charley's. They're not around anymore.
So I was working at the one in North County because I lived in
West Alton, which is Saint Charles County, but closer to
North County than it is to out here.
So anyway, that's where I started and I just was, that's
all I've ever done is work in the industry.
So it was like server, bartender, assistant manager,
manager and then your. Leadership just shined.
(21:32):
Yeah, but is Hendrix it's own thing?
Hendrix is it's own thing. So I met my partners.
There's three of us that own this restaurant and one of them
worked with me. We worked together at
O'charley's and then went to different things, and then there
he'd always wanted to own his own restaurant, and so we
purchased a different restaurantin the city.
(21:56):
And what? Kind of menu was.
This, that was tapas. It was Spanish cocktails, tapas,
OK, it's not around anymore. However, the original owner of
that restaurant also owned this restaurant, Hendrick's BBQ.
So this is not our original concept.
It was just kind of a, hey, the people I sold that restaurant
to, we aren't doing so well, so you guys should buy this
(22:17):
restaurant. So I'm living in the city now,
so it's kind of a stretch for usto come out.
Here and for listeners that's like a 30 minute it's about. 30
minutes on a good day. Yeah, which I don't mind.
Like listen to my audio book. You can press.
I don't mind the drive at all. Everyone's like, oh, I can't see
why you crossed the river. I'm like, trust me, come on
(22:37):
over. So that's just, I mean,
restaurants are all I've ever known.
So this is what this is what we do now.
And then the Thanksgiving thing started happening because we are
closed on Thanksgiving outside of doing the orders.
But I really am super grateful when I get to like when someone,
especially you and several others who are repeat every year
and they order from us and they're just like, Oh my gosh, I
(22:58):
can't wait. Like this is what we do.
And just like it's like I get tobe part of every like other
people's family traditions. And that's super important to
me. So I'm actually very grateful
that I get to do this. I'm very grateful that I met
you. And just tomorrow is like a very
busy day for us because once we are finished with everyone's
pickup words, which we have having a record year, then our
(23:19):
family will come here and we'll do our family's restaurant.
There's going to be 40 people. So you have the space for it.
How many on a packed night? How many customers can be eating
at once? Well, depends on if we're using
the event spaces. We have two of those.
If those are full, those are about, I would say that's like
80. And then there are, how many
(23:39):
inside seats are there? I don't know, 28 times there's
math. There's 30 tables and some of
them seat 4 and I don't know. I would say 200, about 200
probably because I remember we've had 100 top up here, 200,
yeah. So yeah, about 200 in the main
dining room, we have, you know, a lot of space for large parties
to come in. So we have, we have that a lot
(24:01):
so. Love soccer season?
Right, it's. So interesting to me just how
that all comes together. And then then I guess Kim, at
some point you start working forsister.
I would love to know, like when did that occur?
Did you follow her through her other places?
And then also what it's like to work?
I mean, there's things about working with your spouse and
working with your cousin and working with your sibling.
(24:23):
I'm very curious how that dynamic goes to play out you.
Want to know honestly, Well, there was a period of my life
where I was not around the family for, you know, I was
battling addiction and stuff like that.
So whenever I was ready to get better or was there because
(24:45):
she's always been there, you know that like there's been
several times where I was like trying to get better didn't work
out, but I finally was. And she was like, are you for
real this time? I'm like, yes, I'm for real this
time. And she's like, OK, well, I need
to cook it. Another one of her sister
restaurants that used to be there was Diablito's and it was
like a little little Taco, you know, Mexican food.
(25:07):
She's like, I need to cook thereand I'm like, I never cooked
before, but I will do my darndest.
And I actually my first job was also a Charlie's back when I was
16. So I just went where she was.
So I did follow her in some someinstances, but she gave me a job
there and then, you know, then she when she took over this
place, she's like, God, I reallyneed servers and I'm like, I
really don't want to get back into serving because I did that
(25:29):
my whole life and I was like trying to resist, but she's
like, no, it's really good. This would be awesome.
So so I did and I was pregnant at the time with my third kid
whenever I started here and it just sucked me in.
And now I'm now I'm like, what? Lead server bartender.
So yeah. And I and so I do love working
(25:49):
for Laura, like I, I really do. But she does hold me to a much
higher standard than she would regular employees, which is
good, but also a little exhausting.
Those older sister expectations?So yeah, those and she really
does hold me to them too, which is fine.
Like that's where that's, I mean, how I got the position I
(26:10):
got, you know, up here. So I work hard because I you
don't want to make her look good.
And you know, we have, we do have our sibling moments, but I
mean, who doesn't? Well, this is a family
restaurant anyway. My, my, our cousin is my general
manager like so there's more family, there's like this is a,
(26:33):
this is a true tried and true family owned and operated
restaurant. So if chances are if you meet
someone in the dining room, we're related in some capacity.
Dan worked for us for a little bit too, during a transition
phase for him. But now you stop by.
You order something you love. I try to bring, you know, some
business in. I bring groups in from church,
(26:54):
you know, here and there and, you know, just just just to
help, you know, bring business in for her.
So, so things will go a little bit better, you know.
Funds back. He also worked at Ocharleys a
long time. You.
Know everyone follows Laura is kind of what I'm hearing out of
all of this. So I mean, that kind of just
ties into just we've always beentogether.
So during the times when they'rebattling their own demons and we
(27:18):
weren't together, like it was pretty devastating for me.
So and I just feel super grateful to have them here and
close to me. Like even if you're not working
with me anymore, but like like having like just having you as
part of my daily life is super important.
And like I feel super grateful to have that.
So don't think about working anywhere else.
You're fine. They haven't recorded to so they
(27:40):
know better. They can't say they forgot.
I'm curious because you point out the sibling bond piece,
which really doesn't have words like there's there's just this
connection. Curious now that you're adults
and if you could kind of talk tonow who's your adoptive family
or any family that is saying, well, I think I'd like to get
licensed to do this. What do you wish people would
(28:01):
think about when they think about can I help siblings?
Whether that's 253, whatever thenumber is like now that you
know, it's like kind of an adultmindset.
What do you wish that people would consider and understand
when they say yes or no? I would say first and foremost
is your motive behind what you're doing.
If you're if you're doing it forthe kids to help them to, you
(28:23):
know, watch them grow, to help them become, you know,
functional good people, you know, then, then I by all means
go for it. But if you're if you're in it
for any other reason, any other reason than to help these
children try to do something else, do something else.
That's all I got to say. How about you, Kim?
(28:43):
What do you wish people thought about when they thought about
saying yes or no to siblings? Just imagine being uprooted from
your life, from your entire everything, you know, but, but
imagine doing that alone. Like, like think about, you
know, if there was a sibling there, then they know they they
have somebody who knows exactly what they've been through.
(29:04):
They don't even have to use words.
So, so as a parent to those siblings, you're going to have a
hard time navigating their trauma and that's OK.
You know, of course, like you didn't get a psychology degree,
but that that sibling is going to be there for them even
whenever they're, even whenever they do go to therapy and they
(29:26):
they can't articulate what is happening to them or how they
feel that siblings going to knowwithout words.
So that's really important for for them to stay together, so
that way they have that constantin their life and that somebody
who will understand them all theway down to the nitty gritty.
Thanks for sharing that. How about you, Laura?
To kind of the mother hen? I am.
I am a little bit of a mother hen.
(29:47):
I've been told that for all my life.
I would say to exactly what Kim said.
Like just if you're gonna, if you know, you have a child who
is, is going to have to live a completely different life and
learn how to deal with things that they have been through or
the things that they have seen. Like why would you not want
someone who can just be there for them, with them without
having to think about it? Like they know too, Like they're
(30:10):
why would you not keep them together?
Like, because then you're on topof the trauma they've already
been through. Now you're going to traumatize
them again by keeping them from the people that they could
potentially be with. But I will also say that if
you're going to think about adopting A sibling group to
remember that they are individuals and the needs that
they have will be different. Each of us, you know, had lived
(30:31):
similar experiences, but each ofus lived our own individual
experiences. And so to remember that going
into it, I would imagine folks that are wanting to adopt
period, let alone adopt groups of children at the same time
probably already have a good heart and probably are already
trying to be self aware of what,you know, how can I be, how can
(30:53):
I best suit these children? I just would say to again,
remember the individual that they are and that maybe one size
doesn't fit all when it comes tothe help that they need and the
steps that they would use to getthrough and learn the things
that they need to. It's not easy for everyone to go
through the things that some kids have gone through and then
(31:13):
to expect them to achieve in thesame way the next one did is
just not fair and really impossible to expect.
Because you're all individuals. Do you want to add something?
Yeah, I just want to build on Laura was talking about the
trauma of, of, of what comes with being put into a foster
family or, or or whatever. But imagine, imagine adding the
(31:40):
trauma you'd be adding to a child if you if you said yes to
1 sibling and then no to to another.
Because that's trauma on top of trauma right there.
Because now that's the one that didn't get taken, is now living
the rest of his life. What's wrong with me?
You know what? What?
How come I'm not good enough to be?
You know, we already have a little bit of that happening.
(32:00):
Yeah, it is. So yeah, just there's a lot to
consider. When when when considering
taking families. But yeah, I just highly suggest
not splitting up siblings. Yeah, we need more families say
yes, in that space it can be a lot because there there's seven
groups that can be 6 and seven and more kids and you know, to
have space for that the rooms like people plan it can be a
(32:21):
lot. But to your exact point, all
three of you really said this about, you know, it's it's
healthier. Our siblings stay together.
And I know as a nation, we've gotten better about making that
a priority. But having families say, yes, my
hope is by hearing your stories,especially that, OK, like this
is this is what they went through.
And man, I could help another group of kids kind of have that
understanding. And so can I wonder when you
(32:42):
were going through school, I know Laura talked a little bit
about her teachers, but I'm curious for like your own
perspective, was there anyone, ateacher, a coach and neighbor
that you feel like was really supportive to you that maybe you
could help our listeners understand?
Like that's something I could, Icould be a positive influence in
a child's life around me becauseof maybe what you felt.
(33:03):
You had a lot of friendships it sounds like.
Yeah, I, I honestly don't remember a whole lot from
teachers because I feel like if I was treated differently, I
didn't recognize that I was being treated differently.
I don't know, they may have had more, a little more confusion.
I really don't remember that. The thing that stuck out to me
most was the peers, you know, finding out other people that
(33:23):
you know, were adopted also. But then also we did have a good
neighbor support. Like I said, the people who came
up to our adoption announcement,you know, they really helped
with, they really help support my parents.
I think that was necessary for them too.
I mean, taking in three kids, you know?
And these are neighbors so that you're adoptive parents,
correct? Correct.
Yeah. Neighbors.
Too that just like I remember our kids moved in late at night
(33:46):
and the one neighbor is up with my husband getting the the trash
bag and helping and having thosepeople in your life is so
incredible. Right, right.
Yeah. And just the the emotional
support, you know, I'm, you know, we need a babysitter.
We need this, you know, they're always showed up for her.
And I think that was important too.
And I know that's not really my personal experience, but it is
something that I observed so. Yeah.
(34:06):
You saw the neighbors lending a hand.
Yeah. Dan, do you have anything you
want to add any adult that was in that scenario or peers that
might have kind of stuck out to you being supportive or caring?
One of our neighbors, her name was Nancy.
She was very inclusive for all three of us.
Like, she invited us to her church and she was always around
(34:29):
when I was going through the Scouts.
And I just, I just really remember being very involved
with the three of us throughout most of our teenage years, you
know? So just a quick shout out to her
to say thank you for that, you know?
Yeah. Swim lesson?
Yeah, swim lesson. Camping.
Camping. Does she have kids too?
Like. Yeah, she had one son.
(34:49):
Yeah. His name was Kyle.
They were. She was very sweet, very
sweetheart, you know? Had a van, I'm thinking because
yeah, yeah. Teaches some other neighbors too
sometimes. Laura, you had this.
Sweet grade school teacher that recognized your last name
change. Was there anyone else or
anything else that teacher did that stands out to you?
I can't say specifically other than just being pissed.
(35:11):
When I was in second grade, she was also going on maternity
leave. So like she wasn't there for
part of the year. So like her student teachers,
but I when you're, when you're that age and you're, and you've
gone through something that you don't know that anyone else has
ever been through, like you think that no one else on earth
has ever done the things that you've done through.
Like you think you're special, like you think you're different
than everybody else. And, and not in necessarily a
(35:32):
bad way, but in just like I've done something you guys don't
know about type of thing. So I remember our guidance
counselor, like having conversations with her because I
was like, I can't relate to other kids because as far as I
know, like no one's like trauma dumping on each other seven
years old. So I don't even I think that
like I'm the only kid that's ever gone through the things
(35:53):
that I've gone through. So I remember Miss Hazel.
Elementary's, Elementary's brownand then miss.
Hazel. Miss Hazel.
Dan's really got the whole yearbook.
Yeah, I remember having a good conversation with her and I
remember them helping me out a lot too.
So. But other like I can't think of
like a specific instance, but I'd never, I always felt
(36:15):
supported. I always felt like we had a good
system so. And it sounds like you all
didn't move like you kind of grew up.
Yep. Same.
Yeah, my parents still live in the same house that we were
indulging. Wow.
So I remember Laura, when you and I spoke on the phone, you
were like, I'm gonna go find this Kelly Clarkson clip.
And I, I've said it enough times, it's like ingrained in my
head. And as we close, I want to share
something. And you probably remember seeing
this the Kelly Clarkson shared is I was talking about adopting
(36:37):
siblings. And to me, it's just a second
nature, like, well, of course, like that's what you do.
But I remember her specifically saying it's important to keep
them together. And she's totally right.
And I'm wondering, we know we need more forever families.
We know we need more families for siblings.
And from each of you, you've shared such powerful examples.
But kind of in closing, then we'll start with Laura, Go, Dan,
(36:59):
and then Kim. I wonder if you would kind of
reflect on what you think might have been different or maybe
what you would have missed out on if you would have been split
up? I honestly can't even imagine
not having them. I can't.
I cannot fathom being away from them.
I don't know that I would have lived the life that I've lived.
(37:23):
I don't know that I would have made it through anything.
I, I really, I'm like, just liketrying to even imagine a
scenario like that is just impossible for me because I like
part most of my existence as a kid.
And like, like I, like you said earlier, I was a bit of a mother
(37:44):
hen, but like them to being likeknowing that they're OK and
knowing that they're safe and being part of their lives has
been like pivotal and who I am as a person.
I can't even consider what wouldhappen if we would have been
together and like just the struggles that we had while we
are together. Like if we would have had to
face some of these struggles without each other.
(38:07):
Let alone whatever you could have faced or any of us could
have faced in a different scenario, different family, in a
different home, in a different school.
No, absolutely not, Absolutely not.
I can't even imagine it. I have given this a lot of
thought. I know exactly what I where I
would be right now if we weren'ttogether because I would be
(38:28):
dead. I guarantee that because I would
not know how to like Laura was just talking about tackle some
of the issues that I've tackled with them by my side.
You know what I mean? And without, if I, if that had
been taken from them, my heart would have broke and it would
not have been mended and I probably would have been
(38:50):
introduced to drugs at a much younger age.
It was just, it would have been a downhill slope, faster than
anything I've ever seen in my life.
And I probably would have been overdosing and dying at probably
like 20. So that's how I feel my life
would have gone if it wasn't I hadn't been with them my entire
life. Laura's crying.
(39:11):
I love you. So I was the baby, you know, I
like they Laura, of course, mother hen.
She was like she was my emotional rock like she'd shoot
she'd when I was what, two or three years old, I'd gotten
suffocated by a babysitter and Laura was there in the hospital
with me, like holding my hand until I got better.
Like she was she was basically my mother and she was only three
(39:32):
years older than me like so I don't remember that, but I
remember her telling me those stories.
I was very young. So like they're just there.
There is no world without them. Like there, there isn't like I
like I said, the story about thethe daycare when they made me
sit in a separate room and I just bawled my eyes out.
Like that would have been my life forever just bawling my
eyes out without them. I do kind of want to talk real
(39:56):
quick if I can about my my youngest sister who was adopted.
She she came into our family when she was a baby.
My, you know, my doctor parents adopted her as well.
She has a sister, half sister who is still with her biological
family. My mom has been so open about
letting them know each other growing up.
(40:17):
And so I think that it's important if, if there is
another sibling to let them knoweach other, because I would have
lived my whole life wondering. I, I probably would have ran
away trying to find them. If, if they were not, you know,
like it like I would have, I would have been looking for them
forever. Like, like, yes, there was that
curiosity of who's my biologicalmom.
(40:37):
I want to meet her. But I, but I right, but I can
wait until I'm 18. I can wait till I'm allowed,
which I didn't because I found Iwas a little younger than Laura
and I found her phone number in Laura's phone.
So I did not wait. But you know, that's, it would
have been a completely differentpool.
It would have been, I would havebeen demanding, you know, where
are they? Who are they with?
Can I see them? Can I be with them?
You know? And I think if I had, if I had
(40:59):
got adopted to the people I'm adopted, who adopted me and they
did not, they would have at least let me see them.
And that's a good to know that that's that feels good to know
that they would have allowed that where we would not have
been completely cut off from each other.
But I'm so glad we we were able to stay all together.
Lifetime of memories together, of a lifetime of experiences
(41:21):
together. Exactly.
Exactly. So if there's anybody out there
who you know, it's not possible to adopt the other sibling, at
least let them know each other. At least let them grow up
together, that is. I think so.
Important SO. Good.
I mentioned to all of it before we start recording to you like
I've always wanted to have siblings on the podcast.
(41:41):
And I love that it's the three of you and that you're able to
in a healthy, comfortable way talk about this.
And so you may not ever get to like know who all is listening,
but I can tell you that it's been very meaningful to hear
what you all have gone through and how you've stuck it
together. And I think it's very timely
with the Thanksgiving holiday and thinking about the number of
(42:03):
and children just kind of continuing to wait.
So thank you so so much for sharing your stories.
Thank you so much for spending time with us.
It truly matters that you listentoday because by tuning in,
you're opening your heart to thestories of children in foster
care, sparking empathy and starting to see how your unique
(42:24):
role, whether as a friend, advocate or even as a future
adoptive parent, can bring hope and belonging to a child or
sibling group that is waiting. I also, I'm going to personally
invite you to reach out to me toask anything that's on your
heart. I promise no judgement.
You can find me on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
And I mean it when I say you canask anything.
(42:45):
I know it can feel awkward to ask questions publicly and
that's why I carve out time during my lunch hour and
evenings while my kids and husband are at martial arts to
mentor others one-on-one. Your questions matter, your
curiosity matters, and most importantly, the role you are
playing in helping children in foster care matters.
Together we can hope and belonging.
Until next time, take care and keep the conversation going.
We really should have waiting parents, not waiting children.
Over 100,000 children are available for adoption through
the US foster care system, and 27% don't have anyone like a
relative or foster parent in theprocess of adopting them. 60%
are between the ages of five and17, and 2/3 are part of sibling
groups of two to eight children.Hey listener, my name is Marcy
(00:27):
Bursack. My husband and I chose Adoption
is our Plan A. After blogging about our journey
adopting A sibling pair, I beganmentoring families right in my
own living room. That passion grew into the
Forgotten Adoption Option, a nonprofit and now lead as a
volunteer while working full time in the tech industry.
From my blog, Three Books app, and Classroom Lesson, to now a
45 minute course called Foster Care Adoption Simplified, which
(00:50):
you can find at forgottenadoptionoption.com,
I've created practical, heartfelt resources to help
families navigate the foster care adoption process.
As you listen to this episode, Iencourage you to ask yourself,
who in my circle needs to hear this?
It's often people in what we call helper professions.
People like therapists, nurses, doctors, police officers,
(01:11):
firefighters, social workers, and teachers like my husband.
These are the people who tend tostep forward to adopt children
from foster care. But this work isn't only about
becoming an adoptive family. It's also about becoming an
advocate and ally. Every waiting child deserves not
just a forever family, but a community of people who champion
their future. Whatever LED you to this
(01:33):
podcast, I am thrilled that you were here.
My mission is simple, to help every waiting child be with
their forever family. And that's exactly why I host
this podcast. Welcome to the Forgotten
Adoption Option podcast. In today's episode, we're
talking about something incredibly meaningful, what it's
(01:55):
like to be adopted as part of a sibling group.
A sibling group simply means twoor more children placed
together. And in this episode we have all
three siblings who were adopted together.
And Speaking of three, this whole episode started because
it's something that happened three years ago for
Thanksgiving. My husband and I decided we are
not going to spend Thanksgiving and likely the entire day and
(02:16):
night before in our kitchen, food for hours and then doing a
mountain of dishes on our day off work.
So somehow we learned a local restaurant was offering to cook
a family feast for us and all we'd have to do is pick it up
between 10:00 and 2:00 for Thanksgiving.
So here we are. Hi, Laura, Kim and Dan.
Hi. Marcy.
So Laura Menemeyer, the eldest sibling, is the owner of
Hendrick's BBQ. Each year she and I have had a
(02:39):
phone call where she helps me feel incredibly confident about
the portions I order, ensuring we account for if I want
leftovers or not. So we literally go by how much
extra do you want, How many people are at the table?
It's just something we've talkedabout all three years and
something that's really stood out to me is her tone and
demeanor. She literally like you can feel
the joy of her excitement and preparing the meal for our
family. It's the sweetest thing.
(03:00):
So Kim, the youngest sister, also works the restaurant as a
bartender and server. And Dan, their brother, rounds
up this incredible sibling trio.This year, when Laura called to
confirm my Thanksgiving order, our conversation took an
unexpected and emotional turn, one that had me teary eyed while
fumbling to get my debit card information to pay for the
order. And that's what's led to this
bonus episode. So Laura, let's start with you.
(03:22):
What was on your heart the day you called me about the
Thanksgiving order? Well, to be very honest with
you, I was feeling a little bad about the back and forth like we
had like you had emailed and then it was a couple of days
before we like solidified it. So I was like, let me get on the
phone with her myself and make sure that I get this done.
I was not feeling that at all. Well.
I realized that I did realize that, but the manager that was
(03:44):
working on the order was like, hey, call her.
Especially if I talk to someone who's literally talked to Kelly
Clarkson before, which she knowsI'm a huge fan because.
You saw my emails. Because I saw e-mail signature,
yes. And so I got on the phone with
you and was like, hey, I have totell you, I'm adopted.
And then it went from there. The stories were shared and
conversations were had, and thenThanksgiving was paid for, and
(04:05):
then the podcast was scheduled, which was pretty.
Well, because I remember as we were talking, you were like, oh,
I wanted to share with you. I'm adopted.
And I never know when someone shares if that's like, oh, I was
adopted as a baby or, oh, I was adopted through like, an
intercountry adoption. And then you were like, oh, I
was adopted through foster care.And I was like, oh, OK, well,
how old are you? And so then it was just this
incredible thing as my husband and I adopted siblings
ourselves. I was like, you, you have two
(04:25):
other siblings and you're still together, which is so beautiful.
And so you told me that you wereall placed in foster care
together. And so, Laura, maybe you can
start off. How old were you when you
entered into the foster care system?
I was 7, seven years old, and then it was in the summertime
and my birthday's in August, so I was just about to turn 8 when
we were first placed in foster care, I was 4.
(04:48):
And I was 6. We're really close in age.
Yeah, we are. It's like a lot.
For someone to say yes to. And so Laura, I remember asking
you how old you were when you got adopted.
Can you walk us through how old you were kind of when you
entered care and then I know it sounds like you all were
somewhere for like an evening, yes.
And then you moved. So what was that like for you
(05:09):
and maybe Kim and Daniel, if youguys want to add anything to
that as well? Sure.
So we were placed in an emergency care overnight and
then the next day we're placed with our foster family who did
eventually adopt us a couple of years later.
So seven years old going into the system.
I was 10 when we were. Officially adopted, but you
(05:31):
lived with the same family the whole time, right?
So you were with them for multiple years.
Yeah, OK. Yeah, all three of us.
We went through the process through the DFS office and here
in Saint Charles. So that's why it took two years
because that is their limit on how long you can be in the
system before you're available for adoption.
(05:53):
So they tried reunification withour biological family.
So after several attempts, it did not work.
So our foster family eventually adopted us as soon as we were
eligible for adoption. So you're in children's division
and for those who might be listening to anywhere in the
country, so yeah, we're in the same county, which is super cool
(06:13):
and it's interesting. So you're now adoptive parents
go from zero to three kids overnight.
And for me, we went from zero to2.
So like that, that was a big shift.
But I can only imagine what it'slike to have three that are all
together. And I wonder, Laura, like what
do you remember being aware of? Was it the middle of the night
when you all were taken? And like how did like what do
(06:35):
you remember from like how that 48 hours of your life?
It was not the middle of the night we were first taken
because no, it wasn't because DFS came.
We were at Mary's house playing in the front yard and the police
came and took us. It was overnight before we were
placed. I remember being at the police
station at night time. Grandma was there and then and
she was really angry, like she'sso mad at me.
(06:56):
And then we were placed at the emergency stop.
I don't know what your guys memories are of that, but I
remember being like in the frontyard when the social workers
like I remember what she looks like.
I remember the police coming that day and then by that
evening we were in. So I remember being woken up by
(07:17):
our babysitter. We were sleeping on the floor in
her room kind of in her closet and she's our babysitter was
crying and and she took us outside and told she supposed to
put our clothes on, took us outside and there were cops
there. The lights were on and.
(07:37):
Me and Danny got to ride in the back of a cop car.
We thought it was the coolest thing ever.
It was. But we had no idea what was
going on. I was honestly, I was scared.
We got to the police station. Nobody would tell me anything,
you know, I didn't understand what was going on or why, why we
were there. I thought I was in trouble.
You know. So is Mary the babysitter and is
she at your home or are you at her place?
(07:59):
We were at her place. Oh wow, and where did you ride
in in the car? I think I was taken first
because I was interviewed about things that were happening that
I actually that the babysitter or babysitter's friend ended up
like hotlining. So I think that's why I was
there, because I remember being at the police station for a long
(08:19):
time. You were already there at the
PlayStation when we got there because and I thought you had
gotten grabbed from school. I didn't know that you were at
Mary's too. So hey, we're all learning
things today. It.
Was July. Oh, that's right.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I was so. I was so young.
So I know when you hotline it's supposed to be totally anonymous
and so why is is grandma mad because she knew that you said
(08:41):
something? I think so it was a sexual abuse
situation with her son, so who was living in the house and so
which was not the first time that that happened.
So I think she was like kind of in denial and didn't want to
believe that it was happening. And the fact that I had told
someone about it, like that's probably a podcast episode for a
(09:02):
different day, but she was, I think that's what she was upset
about. And, but also at the time, I
didn't realize the consequences of having that conversation and
like what was going to happen after being interviewed by
police and stuff like that. I didn't even, I didn't know
that's what happened next. You know, I did not know at the
time who did the hotlining. I didn't find that out until way
(09:23):
into my adult years. Like I didn't even know that
that because it was Mary's friend Melissa is what our bio
mom told us much later. But so then I guess that night
we all end up at the police station and then placed into an
emergency care home overnight. And then they were telling me
that that we went to daycare thenext day, which I don't have any
(09:45):
memory of. So I'm going to turn that over
to Danny. Yeah, I don't really remember
much from the daycare either. I remember is being really
confused that I was in a place that I've never been before,
surrounded by kids that I've never seen before.
So yeah, I'm gonna like Kimberly, talk about this one.
It's crazy because this is a core memory for me guys, where
(10:06):
we went to this daycare and I remember them separating me from
my brother and sister because I was younger.
So I had to go with the younger kids.
And I just remember there being a really tall wall and they were
on the other side of that wall, but I was not allowed to go over
there. And I remember just being
devastated. Like I just got uprooted from my
life. Went to live with you, went to
stay the night with you strangers, went to a daycare the
(10:28):
next day and I couldn't be with my brother and sister.
And that was traumatic for me. So yeah, that's what I remember
about that daycare. Were you all really?
Close as young kids. Yes, we were grouped together
constantly. I mean, we went from OK foster
care. Our parents were unstable, to
say the least. So we were, you know, moved
around, grouped together, you know, stay at this friend's
(10:48):
house, Stay. Stay in the car for hours at a
time. Who knows?
You know, So it was always just us three.
Yeah. Oh, my God, the crisis.
I remember those two like I havea lot of memories from like that
time. And I think if you're from
another state than Missouri, thecrisis nursery allows kids can
be electively dropped off there or it's kind of like a holding
(11:10):
place. Actually used to volunteer at
one when I was in high school. But it's essentially just like a
safe haven for kids while the parents need to go to an
appointment or kind of work on themselves or anything in
between. We were.
The only thing that was consistent was the three of us
even before getting placed in the foster care, so.
The fact that we were allowed tostay together, I think is
(11:30):
probably what this kept us alivefrom what we had talked about
before we started recording. You weren't at that preschool
before being in foster care, so did you stay there?
Did the kids know you were in foster?
How did that all kind of work for your environment?
So that was just like a one day thing.
We're only there for the one day.
So, you know, with any kids, youknow, after your initial like
(11:51):
cry it out, then you start to play with the other kids.
And that's what I remember doing.
I started playing with one of the other girls until, you know,
like the teacher wanted to introduce me to the class.
And I remember she was trying to, she was trying.
I remember she was trying to like, like have me stand in a
weird way, like next to her, like too close to her.
And I kept pushing off because Ididn't want to be that close.
And she kept pulling me back. And it wasn't anything like
(12:12):
nefarious, but like as a kid, I'm like, stop touching me.
So I remember that being really awkward.
And then there was another girl who was just like, come ride
this big wheel with me. And then it was all good for the
rest of the day. I don't know how much of this
you're going to put in there 'cause it's a long story, but
yeah. So then after that, we went to,
that's when we went to the Val was our caseworker.
(12:33):
Love her. Just saw her a couple months ago
when she came into Hendricks andwe're like Laura, is that Val?
She's like that is Val like what's that Val?
So anyway, she was amazing, amazing caseworker.
And so I remember she had a convertible.
So we got a ride in her car to the DOS office and that's when
we met our now adoptive parents for the first time.
(12:57):
And I remember bawling my eyes out and my and, you know, my mom
been like, what? I don't know what to do with
this. She's like, you're going to make
yourself sick. It's OK Calm down.
I'm just like crying for days. I don't even remember.
So whenever we left the daycare and got to the DFS office, I
(13:19):
don't I didn't I didn't say a word like I was quiet the whole
time. I said hi to Dale.
I remember when we got to their house, first thing I did was
fall asleep on the couch and I slept for hours.
Like like the whole. Next, the.
Whole. Yeah, until the next day, yeah.
The neighbors came over and momsbecause we're in a pretty small
(13:39):
town so the neighbors know each other.
I do remember meeting Wally and Vicki that day and didn't mean
anything to me at the time, but now that I'm thinking back, I do
remember you falling asleep on the couch and Wally and Vicki
coming over. We had spaghetti for dinner.
What were there? Meatballs.
Garlic. Bread like ground beef spaghetti
and it was like my mom used to get recipes like sprinkle sugar
in it, which is like. Not a secret.
(14:01):
Not a secret at the time, it was, it was definitely different
for us. But I do remember having a Spani
the first time the first night there.
And I do remember you sleeping all the time.
And it was pretty emotional because we just wanted to go
home. We didn't know, you know, we
didn't know what's happening. We just wanted to go home
because we were just like uprooted from our entire
everything we knew. Did they tell you this will be
temporary or how long? Did they give you any guidance?
(14:23):
On kids that we, we did know it was going to be temporary
because like the whole goal was to go back home was like to get
you know, and then we went into physics at the DFS office and
then we even got to the point with, with our biological mom,
not our dad. We got to the point where he was
spending weekends with her, but she could not maintain all the
(14:45):
things that she should do to letus live with her.
So eventually after the time period passed, the parental
rights were terminated and then we were up for adoption.
And I don't even know if my parents even second guessed.
You know, I think they probably intended to do that from before
the parental rights are terminated.
I'm not entirely sure, but I think so.
(15:07):
A couple follow-ups. So I know that when children are
placed in care they often look to immediate families like
aunts, uncles, grandparents first.
But that didn't happen for you all.
So most of our family had a history.
So those weren't good choices. Yeah, they weren't.
They weren't really good choices.
The only one that was really available was in the Army, so he
(15:28):
wasn't available either. So you're meeting a bunch of new
people, you're with this kind ofovernight place, and then you're
moving in with a family and you,from what I remember you all
sharing, you were like the firstkids that they had had maybe.
So what was the bedroom setup like?
Like how are they ready? Because I'm like, that's just a
lot. They were originally told that
(15:48):
they were getting 2 girls. They got to the DFS office and
it was all three of us. And they're like, well, they're,
you know, they're angels. So they're like, well we're
going to take all of them. Obviously, like they they were
surprised, but they made do withwhat they could to keep us all
together, which was nice. I remember turning.
The back of the. Kitchen into a bedroom for
Danny, I think probably because we were required to have
(16:09):
separate rooms. Yeah.
And girls, yeah. So they it.
Was a temporary mattress in the back of the kitchen situation
and so the addition to the house.
Listeners, I know that we often talk about, you know, how do you
prepare your home for things like this?
And it's not uncommon. I know my own situation, we
renovated some space and made itso we could have a bedroom, 2 of
(16:30):
them separate. So if we had both genders, which
we do. And so that's just kind of part
of how this all works out, whichis beautiful.
I love that they were like, we're going to say yes to all
three. We're going to make this work.
I am curious. So I have a book that just came
out called It's OK to Talk AboutAdoption.
And the goal is to really make adoption a normal conversation.
And it doesn't mean tell everyone everything.
It means, you know, to those that it feels comfortable.
(16:51):
Laura, I remember you mentioningon the phone when you're doing
the order that you're like, yeah, like, you know, like
you're like in the club, like, you understand how this works.
And so we just, like, openly have this dialogue.
And I'm curious as you were growing up, you all are old
enough to know that like you lived with a very different
family first, but how open was that growing up?
And like, did you ever talk about it at school or I would
just love to hear, like, what was your childhood like in terms
(17:12):
of being able to talk about yourexperience?
I didn't talk about it ever. Ever.
It was very open in our family, within our family, like, you
know, our, we obviously we had awhole like Christmas celebration
whenever it was announced that we were going to be adopted,
like the whole family was. So the neighbors were there.
Everybody was like, it was like a whole celebration for when we
got adopted. So like we made it a big deal.
(17:35):
Like within the family for me atschool, I was always very open
about it. And like one thing that was
crucial with like growing up is meeting other kids who are also
in foster care. So like there's one girl who I'm
still friends with today. She's actually adopted from
Guatemala. So completely different story,
but like we bonded in kindergarten because we were
both adopted, you know, like, solike being able to, to be open
(17:58):
about it and like knowing other kids, it was huge.
And then we did the, the foster care picnics and stuff like that
where they had held events for like those I think made a huge
impact on me as a kid. Because just knowing that
there's other kids who've been through these things, you know,
who've been through the same things that I have been through,
and just being surrounded by peers who get it, that was
(18:22):
really crucial, I think, in justmy overall mental stability
growing up. Yeah, I think those foster care
picnics definitely made me feel more comfortable about where I
was because there were people inmy class that I'd never knew
were also, you know, in foster care or have been adopted, you
(18:44):
know, And it just made me feel more comfortable in school that
there are people that are, you know, in the same situation that
I was in. For me school I was pretty open
about it too. I don't remember trying to hide
it or not talk about it. And I even remember teachers
being aware because I would haveto get pulled out for court
dates and stuff like that for like situations.
(19:06):
And then I remember probably a little bit after we were adopted
because we, they announced our adoption in December at
Christmas time, like you said. And then I know it wasn't going
to be finalized, but we were to start school the next.
Was it the next semester or the next year?
But we started the next, I thinkthe next year at school, which
(19:26):
would have been 4th grade for me.
Third grade, I don't know, thirdgrade, 3rd grade, yes.
And we started the school year under our new last name, even
though it hadn't officially beenchanged yet.
We did the same thing cuz we weren't.
Yeah, it was just easier. Yeah, so I remember my second
grade teacher like, I'm me goingto her classroom because she was
(19:47):
there, like in need, I don't know, helping in the classroom
or something. And her name was Miss Brinkman.
I love her, Still love her. She was like, this is Laura
Callison. And I was like, Nope.
She's like Minamire, are you adopted?
Like, so it was like it was. No, Yeah, it also that teacher
also went to the same high school as my dad.
So like my adopted dad, because it's Orchard Farm High School,
(20:09):
which is very small, so it was kind of cool.
So I do remember being pretty open about it with friends and
with teachers. So classmates.
Knew your last name changed and it was just a normal yeah thing,
yeah. So, Laura Fast.
Forward Before we go into your career with being a business
owner, restaurant owner, your sister had mentioned that your
social worker she comes as a customer it.
(20:29):
Was like a very quick conversation, like hi, Oh my
gosh, you Remember Me. And she's like, Oh my God, I do,
you know, So I didn't really getinto what she's doing now, but
I'm sure she'll, I'm sure I'll see her again if she's still
local here, Yeah. So Laura, how on earth did you
go from childhood Fast forward, an iron adult running a
business, a successful one. I mean, I run the trail that's
(20:50):
right behind your business. I see your sign.
I'm very aware that you're here.We're three years in for
Thanksgiving. What led you to go into barbecue
of all things, too? So kind of a long, interesting
story, but right after high school, or even during high
school, I started working in a restaurant.
So I've just been. It was the menu.
Was it BBQ? No, it was not.
It was a casual chain restaurant.
(21:11):
It was O'charley's. They're not around anymore.
So I was working at the one in North County because I lived in
West Alton, which is Saint Charles County, but closer to
North County than it is to out here.
So anyway, that's where I started and I just was, that's
all I've ever done is work in the industry.
So it was like server, bartender, assistant manager,
manager and then your. Leadership just shined.
(21:32):
Yeah, but is Hendrix it's own thing?
Hendrix is it's own thing. So I met my partners.
There's three of us that own this restaurant and one of them
worked with me. We worked together at
O'charley's and then went to different things, and then there
he'd always wanted to own his own restaurant, and so we
purchased a different restaurantin the city.
(21:56):
And what? Kind of menu was.
This, that was tapas. It was Spanish cocktails, tapas,
OK, it's not around anymore. However, the original owner of
that restaurant also owned this restaurant, Hendrick's BBQ.
So this is not our original concept.
It was just kind of a, hey, the people I sold that restaurant
to, we aren't doing so well, so you guys should buy this
(22:17):
restaurant. So I'm living in the city now,
so it's kind of a stretch for usto come out.
Here and for listeners that's like a 30 minute it's about. 30
minutes on a good day. Yeah, which I don't mind.
Like listen to my audio book. You can press.
I don't mind the drive at all. Everyone's like, oh, I can't see
why you crossed the river. I'm like, trust me, come on
(22:37):
over. So that's just, I mean,
restaurants are all I've ever known.
So this is what this is what we do now.
And then the Thanksgiving thing started happening because we are
closed on Thanksgiving outside of doing the orders.
But I really am super grateful when I get to like when someone,
especially you and several others who are repeat every year
and they order from us and they're just like, Oh my gosh, I
(22:58):
can't wait. Like this is what we do.
And just like it's like I get tobe part of every like other
people's family traditions. And that's super important to
me. So I'm actually very grateful
that I get to do this. I'm very grateful that I met
you. And just tomorrow is like a very
busy day for us because once we are finished with everyone's
pickup words, which we have having a record year, then our
(23:19):
family will come here and we'll do our family's restaurant.
There's going to be 40 people. So you have the space for it.
How many on a packed night? How many customers can be eating
at once? Well, depends on if we're using
the event spaces. We have two of those.
If those are full, those are about, I would say that's like
80. And then there are, how many
(23:39):
inside seats are there? I don't know, 28 times there's
math. There's 30 tables and some of
them seat 4 and I don't know. I would say 200, about 200
probably because I remember we've had 100 top up here, 200,
yeah. So yeah, about 200 in the main
dining room, we have, you know, a lot of space for large parties
to come in. So we have, we have that a lot
(24:01):
so. Love soccer season?
Right, it's. So interesting to me just how
that all comes together. And then then I guess Kim, at
some point you start working forsister.
I would love to know, like when did that occur?
Did you follow her through her other places?
And then also what it's like to work?
I mean, there's things about working with your spouse and
working with your cousin and working with your sibling.
(24:23):
I'm very curious how that dynamic goes to play out you.
Want to know honestly, Well, there was a period of my life
where I was not around the family for, you know, I was
battling addiction and stuff like that.
So whenever I was ready to get better or was there because
(24:45):
she's always been there, you know that like there's been
several times where I was like trying to get better didn't work
out, but I finally was. And she was like, are you for
real this time? I'm like, yes, I'm for real this
time. And she's like, OK, well, I need
to cook it. Another one of her sister
restaurants that used to be there was Diablito's and it was
like a little little Taco, you know, Mexican food.
(25:07):
She's like, I need to cook thereand I'm like, I never cooked
before, but I will do my darndest.
And I actually my first job was also a Charlie's back when I was
16. So I just went where she was.
So I did follow her in some someinstances, but she gave me a job
there and then, you know, then she when she took over this
place, she's like, God, I reallyneed servers and I'm like, I
really don't want to get back into serving because I did that
(25:29):
my whole life and I was like trying to resist, but she's
like, no, it's really good. This would be awesome.
So so I did and I was pregnant at the time with my third kid
whenever I started here and it just sucked me in.
And now I'm now I'm like, what? Lead server bartender.
So yeah. And I and so I do love working
(25:49):
for Laura, like I, I really do. But she does hold me to a much
higher standard than she would regular employees, which is
good, but also a little exhausting.
Those older sister expectations?So yeah, those and she really
does hold me to them too, which is fine.
Like that's where that's, I mean, how I got the position I
(26:10):
got, you know, up here. So I work hard because I you
don't want to make her look good.
And you know, we have, we do have our sibling moments, but I
mean, who doesn't? Well, this is a family
restaurant anyway. My, my, our cousin is my general
manager like so there's more family, there's like this is a,
(26:33):
this is a true tried and true family owned and operated
restaurant. So if chances are if you meet
someone in the dining room, we're related in some capacity.
Dan worked for us for a little bit too, during a transition
phase for him. But now you stop by.
You order something you love. I try to bring, you know, some
business in. I bring groups in from church,
(26:54):
you know, here and there and, you know, just just just to
help, you know, bring business in for her.
So, so things will go a little bit better, you know.
Funds back. He also worked at Ocharleys a
long time. You.
Know everyone follows Laura is kind of what I'm hearing out of
all of this. So I mean, that kind of just
ties into just we've always beentogether.
So during the times when they'rebattling their own demons and we
(27:18):
weren't together, like it was pretty devastating for me.
So and I just feel super grateful to have them here and
close to me. Like even if you're not working
with me anymore, but like like having like just having you as
part of my daily life is super important.
And like I feel super grateful to have that.
So don't think about working anywhere else.
You're fine. They haven't recorded to so they
(27:40):
know better. They can't say they forgot.
I'm curious because you point out the sibling bond piece,
which really doesn't have words like there's there's just this
connection. Curious now that you're adults
and if you could kind of talk tonow who's your adoptive family
or any family that is saying, well, I think I'd like to get
licensed to do this. What do you wish people would
(28:01):
think about when they think about can I help siblings?
Whether that's 253, whatever thenumber is like now that you
know, it's like kind of an adultmindset.
What do you wish that people would consider and understand
when they say yes or no? I would say first and foremost
is your motive behind what you're doing.
If you're if you're doing it forthe kids to help them to, you
(28:23):
know, watch them grow, to help them become, you know,
functional good people, you know, then, then I by all means
go for it. But if you're if you're in it
for any other reason, any other reason than to help these
children try to do something else, do something else.
That's all I got to say. How about you, Kim?
(28:43):
What do you wish people thought about when they thought about
saying yes or no to siblings? Just imagine being uprooted from
your life, from your entire everything, you know, but, but
imagine doing that alone. Like, like think about, you
know, if there was a sibling there, then they know they they
have somebody who knows exactly what they've been through.
(29:04):
They don't even have to use words.
So, so as a parent to those siblings, you're going to have a
hard time navigating their trauma and that's OK.
You know, of course, like you didn't get a psychology degree,
but that that sibling is going to be there for them even
whenever they're, even whenever they do go to therapy and they
(29:26):
they can't articulate what is happening to them or how they
feel that siblings going to knowwithout words.
So that's really important for for them to stay together, so
that way they have that constantin their life and that somebody
who will understand them all theway down to the nitty gritty.
Thanks for sharing that. How about you, Laura?
To kind of the mother hen? I am.
I am a little bit of a mother hen.
(29:47):
I've been told that for all my life.
I would say to exactly what Kim said.
Like just if you're gonna, if you know, you have a child who
is, is going to have to live a completely different life and
learn how to deal with things that they have been through or
the things that they have seen. Like why would you not want
someone who can just be there for them, with them without
having to think about it? Like they know too, Like they're
(30:10):
why would you not keep them together?
Like, because then you're on topof the trauma they've already
been through. Now you're going to traumatize
them again by keeping them from the people that they could
potentially be with. But I will also say that if
you're going to think about adopting A sibling group to
remember that they are individuals and the needs that
they have will be different. Each of us, you know, had lived
(30:31):
similar experiences, but each ofus lived our own individual
experiences. And so to remember that going
into it, I would imagine folks that are wanting to adopt
period, let alone adopt groups of children at the same time
probably already have a good heart and probably are already
trying to be self aware of what,you know, how can I be, how can
(30:53):
I best suit these children? I just would say to again,
remember the individual that they are and that maybe one size
doesn't fit all when it comes tothe help that they need and the
steps that they would use to getthrough and learn the things
that they need to. It's not easy for everyone to go
through the things that some kids have gone through and then
(31:13):
to expect them to achieve in thesame way the next one did is
just not fair and really impossible to expect.
Because you're all individuals. Do you want to add something?
Yeah, I just want to build on Laura was talking about the
trauma of, of, of what comes with being put into a foster
family or, or or whatever. But imagine, imagine adding the
(31:40):
trauma you'd be adding to a child if you if you said yes to
1 sibling and then no to to another.
Because that's trauma on top of trauma right there.
Because now that's the one that didn't get taken, is now living
the rest of his life. What's wrong with me?
You know what? What?
How come I'm not good enough to be?
You know, we already have a little bit of that happening.
(32:00):
Yeah, it is. So yeah, just there's a lot to
consider. When when when considering
taking families. But yeah, I just highly suggest
not splitting up siblings. Yeah, we need more families say
yes, in that space it can be a lot because there there's seven
groups that can be 6 and seven and more kids and you know, to
have space for that the rooms like people plan it can be a
(32:21):
lot. But to your exact point, all
three of you really said this about, you know, it's it's
healthier. Our siblings stay together.
And I know as a nation, we've gotten better about making that
a priority. But having families say, yes, my
hope is by hearing your stories,especially that, OK, like this
is this is what they went through.
And man, I could help another group of kids kind of have that
understanding. And so can I wonder when you
(32:42):
were going through school, I know Laura talked a little bit
about her teachers, but I'm curious for like your own
perspective, was there anyone, ateacher, a coach and neighbor
that you feel like was really supportive to you that maybe you
could help our listeners understand?
Like that's something I could, Icould be a positive influence in
a child's life around me becauseof maybe what you felt.
(33:03):
You had a lot of friendships it sounds like.
Yeah, I, I honestly don't remember a whole lot from
teachers because I feel like if I was treated differently, I
didn't recognize that I was being treated differently.
I don't know, they may have had more, a little more confusion.
I really don't remember that. The thing that stuck out to me
most was the peers, you know, finding out other people that
(33:23):
you know, were adopted also. But then also we did have a good
neighbor support. Like I said, the people who came
up to our adoption announcement,you know, they really helped
with, they really help support my parents.
I think that was necessary for them too.
I mean, taking in three kids, you know?
And these are neighbors so that you're adoptive parents,
correct? Correct.
Yeah. Neighbors.
Too that just like I remember our kids moved in late at night
(33:46):
and the one neighbor is up with my husband getting the the trash
bag and helping and having thosepeople in your life is so
incredible. Right, right.
Yeah. And just the the emotional
support, you know, I'm, you know, we need a babysitter.
We need this, you know, they're always showed up for her.
And I think that was important too.
And I know that's not really my personal experience, but it is
something that I observed so. Yeah.
(34:06):
You saw the neighbors lending a hand.
Yeah. Dan, do you have anything you
want to add any adult that was in that scenario or peers that
might have kind of stuck out to you being supportive or caring?
One of our neighbors, her name was Nancy.
She was very inclusive for all three of us.
Like, she invited us to her church and she was always around
(34:29):
when I was going through the Scouts.
And I just, I just really remember being very involved
with the three of us throughout most of our teenage years, you
know? So just a quick shout out to her
to say thank you for that, you know?
Yeah. Swim lesson?
Yeah, swim lesson. Camping.
Camping. Does she have kids too?
Like. Yeah, she had one son.
(34:49):
Yeah. His name was Kyle.
They were. She was very sweet, very
sweetheart, you know? Had a van, I'm thinking because
yeah, yeah. Teaches some other neighbors too
sometimes. Laura, you had this.
Sweet grade school teacher that recognized your last name
change. Was there anyone else or
anything else that teacher did that stands out to you?
I can't say specifically other than just being pissed.
(35:11):
When I was in second grade, she was also going on maternity
leave. So like she wasn't there for
part of the year. So like her student teachers,
but I when you're, when you're that age and you're, and you've
gone through something that you don't know that anyone else has
ever been through, like you think that no one else on earth
has ever done the things that you've done through.
Like you think you're special, like you think you're different
than everybody else. And, and not in necessarily a
(35:32):
bad way, but in just like I've done something you guys don't
know about type of thing. So I remember our guidance
counselor, like having conversations with her because I
was like, I can't relate to other kids because as far as I
know, like no one's like trauma dumping on each other seven
years old. So I don't even I think that
like I'm the only kid that's ever gone through the things
(35:53):
that I've gone through. So I remember Miss Hazel.
Elementary's, Elementary's brownand then miss.
Hazel. Miss Hazel.
Dan's really got the whole yearbook.
Yeah, I remember having a good conversation with her and I
remember them helping me out a lot too.
So. But other like I can't think of
like a specific instance, but I'd never, I always felt
(36:15):
supported. I always felt like we had a good
system so. And it sounds like you all
didn't move like you kind of grew up.
Yep. Same.
Yeah, my parents still live in the same house that we were
indulging. Wow.
So I remember Laura, when you and I spoke on the phone, you
were like, I'm gonna go find this Kelly Clarkson clip.
And I, I've said it enough times, it's like ingrained in my
head. And as we close, I want to share
something. And you probably remember seeing
this the Kelly Clarkson shared is I was talking about adopting
(36:37):
siblings. And to me, it's just a second
nature, like, well, of course, like that's what you do.
But I remember her specifically saying it's important to keep
them together. And she's totally right.
And I'm wondering, we know we need more forever families.
We know we need more families for siblings.
And from each of you, you've shared such powerful examples.
But kind of in closing, then we'll start with Laura, Go, Dan,
(36:59):
and then Kim. I wonder if you would kind of
reflect on what you think might have been different or maybe
what you would have missed out on if you would have been split
up? I honestly can't even imagine
not having them. I can't.
I cannot fathom being away from them.
I don't know that I would have lived the life that I've lived.
(37:23):
I don't know that I would have made it through anything.
I, I really, I'm like, just liketrying to even imagine a
scenario like that is just impossible for me because I like
part most of my existence as a kid.
And like, like I, like you said earlier, I was a bit of a mother
(37:44):
hen, but like them to being likeknowing that they're OK and
knowing that they're safe and being part of their lives has
been like pivotal and who I am as a person.
I can't even consider what wouldhappen if we would have been
together and like just the struggles that we had while we
are together. Like if we would have had to
face some of these struggles without each other.
(38:07):
Let alone whatever you could have faced or any of us could
have faced in a different scenario, different family, in a
different home, in a different school.
No, absolutely not, Absolutely not.
I can't even imagine it. I have given this a lot of
thought. I know exactly what I where I
would be right now if we weren'ttogether because I would be
(38:28):
dead. I guarantee that because I would
not know how to like Laura was just talking about tackle some
of the issues that I've tackled with them by my side.
You know what I mean? And without, if I, if that had
been taken from them, my heart would have broke and it would
not have been mended and I probably would have been
(38:50):
introduced to drugs at a much younger age.
It was just, it would have been a downhill slope, faster than
anything I've ever seen in my life.
And I probably would have been overdosing and dying at probably
like 20. So that's how I feel my life
would have gone if it wasn't I hadn't been with them my entire
life. Laura's crying.
(39:11):
I love you. So I was the baby, you know, I
like they Laura, of course, mother hen.
She was like she was my emotional rock like she'd shoot
she'd when I was what, two or three years old, I'd gotten
suffocated by a babysitter and Laura was there in the hospital
with me, like holding my hand until I got better.
Like she was she was basically my mother and she was only three
(39:32):
years older than me like so I don't remember that, but I
remember her telling me those stories.
I was very young. So like they're just there.
There is no world without them. Like there, there isn't like I
like I said, the story about thethe daycare when they made me
sit in a separate room and I just bawled my eyes out.
Like that would have been my life forever just bawling my
eyes out without them. I do kind of want to talk real
(39:56):
quick if I can about my my youngest sister who was adopted.
She she came into our family when she was a baby.
My, you know, my doctor parents adopted her as well.
She has a sister, half sister who is still with her biological
family. My mom has been so open about
letting them know each other growing up.
(40:17):
And so I think that it's important if, if there is
another sibling to let them knoweach other, because I would have
lived my whole life wondering. I, I probably would have ran
away trying to find them. If, if they were not, you know,
like it like I would have, I would have been looking for them
forever. Like, like, yes, there was that
curiosity of who's my biologicalmom.
(40:37):
I want to meet her. But I, but I right, but I can
wait until I'm 18. I can wait till I'm allowed,
which I didn't because I found Iwas a little younger than Laura
and I found her phone number in Laura's phone.
So I did not wait. But you know, that's, it would
have been a completely differentpool.
It would have been, I would havebeen demanding, you know, where
are they? Who are they with?
Can I see them? Can I be with them?
You know? And I think if I had, if I had
(40:59):
got adopted to the people I'm adopted, who adopted me and they
did not, they would have at least let me see them.
And that's a good to know that that's that feels good to know
that they would have allowed that where we would not have
been completely cut off from each other.
But I'm so glad we we were able to stay all together.
Lifetime of memories together, of a lifetime of experiences
(41:21):
together. Exactly.
Exactly. So if there's anybody out there
who you know, it's not possible to adopt the other sibling, at
least let them know each other. At least let them grow up
together, that is. I think so.
Important SO. Good.
I mentioned to all of it before we start recording to you like
I've always wanted to have siblings on the podcast.
(41:41):
And I love that it's the three of you and that you're able to
in a healthy, comfortable way talk about this.
And so you may not ever get to like know who all is listening,
but I can tell you that it's been very meaningful to hear
what you all have gone through and how you've stuck it
together. And I think it's very timely
with the Thanksgiving holiday and thinking about the number of
(42:03):
and children just kind of continuing to wait.
So thank you so so much for sharing your stories.
Thank you so much for spending time with us.
It truly matters that you listentoday because by tuning in,
you're opening your heart to thestories of children in foster
care, sparking empathy and starting to see how your unique
(42:24):
role, whether as a friend, advocate or even as a future
adoptive parent, can bring hope and belonging to a child or
sibling group that is waiting. I also, I'm going to personally
invite you to reach out to me toask anything that's on your
heart. I promise no judgement.
You can find me on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
And I mean it when I say you canask anything.
(42:45):
I know it can feel awkward to ask questions publicly and
that's why I carve out time during my lunch hour and
evenings while my kids and husband are at martial arts to
mentor others one-on-one. Your questions matter, your
curiosity matters, and most importantly, the role you are
playing in helping children in foster care matters.
Together we can hope and belonging.
Until next time, take care and keep the conversation going.
Host
Marcy Bursac
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