Never Having to Leave Again
James and Monica began exploring adoption because they wanted a larger family. They had one daughter, Mia, but knew they had more love to share. After learning there were over 100,000 children in foster care waiting for adoptive families and that most of these children were over the age of five, the Klemans knew they could provide a home for a sibling group of older children. Monica first heard about Adopt America Network from a friend. When asked about their experience with AAN, Monica simply described it as amazing. “They were the ones that matched us with our kids,” she said. “They worked really well with us. Finding our kids was pretty quick once we went with Adopt America Network.”
In April 2008, the Klemans were matched with Pearl, Ignacio, and Tia, who spent three years in foster care awaiting adoption. Though the children were not always placed in the same foster home, they knew they wanted to be adopted together. After waiting several months for ICPC approval, James and Monica went to Texas to meet Pearl, Ignacio, and Tia for the first time. “It was one of the best days of my life,” said Monica. The moment she saw these children she felt an instant love and connection. The children were placed with the Kleman family in Ohio the following weekend. Since the adoption, the Klemans have seen many changes in
their children. Pearl has always been a girly-girl and was very shy when she first came to the Klemans. She took on the big sister role and was like a “mini mom” to her siblings. James and Monica have enjoyed watching Pearl come out of her shell and go back to just being a kid. They love seeing her funny and outgoing side. She will soon be trying out for the soccer team. When the Klemans first met Ignacio, he was hungry to be a part of a family. He had never been on a team of any kind before he was adopted and barely knew what soccer was. When his parents signed him up for his first team, he could not contain his excitement. On the day of his first game, he was up at 6 a.m. with his uniform on because he was so eager to play. Ignacio is a happy-go-lucky kid. He is all boy and loves sports, especially soccer. When asked what adoption meant to him, Ignacio said, “It means never having to leave.”
Tia is a beautiful little girl, who had many struggles when she first came to the Klemans. She was very attached to her foster family and had to go through a grieving process. She would often hurt herself during her long tantrums. Attachment and bonding were not easy for her, but with the help of the right therapist and her parents’ constant assurance they would not leave her, Tia has learned appropriate ways to express herself and is very loving and bonded. Now her eyes sparkle, and her true personality has come out. She loves school and is starting to play soccer.
Mia loves her new siblings. She loved them before they even came to live with her family. She would kiss the picture of her future brother and sisters every night until they came home. Now, all four kids are extremely close and the best of friends. The whole Kleman family loves soccer. One of their favorite activities is going to Columbus Crew soccer games. They often paint their faces and dress up for the games. James and Monica love watching their children, who had very limited experiences prior to the adoption, try and experience new things. Adopting has made them realize the great impact parents have on their children and that spending time with them is the most important thing they can do. Because adoption has been so meaningful for the entire family, the Klemans look forward to the possibility of adopting again.