The Bates family continues to grieve the last of their beloved Papa Bill. In the midst of their pain, Michaela and Brandon Keilen have been overjoyed to enter a new stage of life: parenthood. After years of praying for children, they had the unexpected opportunity to become foster parents, and they took it. They now have two boys in their home, ages three and newborn. They don’t know how long they will have the kids, but they are cherishing every moment. They made a video about Papa Bill’s passing and this new chapter.
I've seen how overjoyed they are but it saddens me to know that how high they feel now,that's how low they are going to feel when the kids are returned to their parents, I don't think fostering is a good idea,in Italy they just have permanent adoption no fostering, if a child is taken from their parents temporarily they get looked after in an orphanage,where they feel like they are in a boarding school with friends and adults that take care of them,but fostering is the same as adoption as in they get to fall in love,only adoption doesn't result in broken hearts after,I'm sorry but that's my opinion on fostering, it just shouldn't be allowed
ReplyDeleteAs an adoptive mother, I disagree about the children being better off in an orphanage. It is of the utmost importance for a young child to form a bond with a caregiver, even if the foster situation doesn't lead to adoption. It is critical in their development and ability to form healthy bonds in the future. Furthermore, adoption is not free from heartbreak. Separation from birth mother is trauma for even an infant and it's irresponsible to minimize this. And certainly, it can be quite traumatic for the birth mother to place her child for adoption. That heartbreak and grief can last a lifetime.
DeleteDo you know how many children are in need of homes in the US?? The foster system is overwhelmed. Their stepping up to do this is much needed.
DeleteThere have been many studies and documentaries about children who get their early start in orphanages (AmerAsian children from Vietnam, Korea, Romania and the New Independent States—previously part of the USSR) that show that failure to bond/nurture early in life often results in attachment disorder and post traumatic stress disorder. Most orphanages have a very poor child to caregiver ratio (not their fault though it is just how it is), limited financial resources, food insecurity, inadequate medical care and outdated facilities. Infants and young children do not have friends and playmates—often if they bond with other children it is more trauma bonding and insecurity. Fostering serves a very important role and the need is extremely great.
DeleteI'm glad for them but unexpected? You have to take classes and pass checks to be a foster parent.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure they did those things,l as I believe its law,but just didn't feel they had to air it with anyone else on the internet until it was final. Gotta respect their decision.
DeleteIf you watched the video, they explained that they had been going through the process for adoption and had completed a home study. They were not expecting to be asked to be foster parents.
DeleteMuch of the adoption training/requirements are the same as foster care.
DeleteFrom what Brandon said, it sounded like their pastor had something to do with this. Maybe it was someone in their church family. Their pastor may have been able to expedite things. JMO
DeleteActually that depends on the type of adoption. For a private adoption, you don't need any training at all!
DeleteIf loving Jesus makes you a bad foster parent, we’re in trouble. I bet they will be incredible foster parents. Amazing thing to do for any child.
DeleteI hope they adopt if she can’t get pregnant again. They’d be good parents to adopted children the same way as to biological children.
ReplyDeleteFostering is generally intended to have the children placed back with the biological family. I truly hope Michael and Brandon can adopt and become parents to their own children.
ReplyDeleteOh please let these little boys become the forever children of Michaela and Brandon🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I did foster care for children. We got a baby boy and ended up adopting him at 3 yrs old. He fit so well into our family of 3 children and even looked like us. People were surprised to hear he was adopted. I pray it end well for the Keilens. They are so caring and devoted aunt and uncle with their nieces and nephews. The foster children are blessed to have them as their "parents"!!
ReplyDeleteWow. The quotation marks around parents is seriously offensive.
DeleteI agree those aren't their children. Those children have a parent or parents . We don't have the reason why they were put in foster . I hope they get to go back to their parents/parent. Just my thought and opinion
DeleteOh, 11:11, they may have been taken from an awful parent situation that you wouldn't really want them to go back to if you knew details.
DeleteUnexpected as in they weren't aware of that particular scenario being possible. They did do everything else to prep. Brandon even states that in the video. Listen before you jump to conclusions.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy for you! Those little ones are blessed to have you two and your love and care.
ReplyDeleteWatch the video. They explain
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree with you. Maybe they've been taking classes and are now certified as foster parents. I hope that's the case.
ReplyDeleteThat’s the only way you can become a foster parent…..
DeleteThe classes requirements differ from state to state. In Oklahoma you can take the classes online within a certain time period AFTER you get the child. If you miss that time period you have to take them in person. If the classes aren't taken, the child will be removed to a different foster home. Does anyone here know the TN laws for foster care?
DeleteThey were in the process of adoption, and Michaela said they had just had their home-study done. And when the call came, they did ask, are you sure we qualify, because we're not on the list. I guess the adoption screening was used, as well as word of mouth(being public figures, anyone could've said something) and a need was there. It was a hard few days of waiting, but I'm happy they have this opportunity.
ReplyDeleteThat's not how foster care works. YOu have very specific steps you have to follow. No agency is going to say, "Oh, you are a celeb, that's good enough as long as you have a home study." You have to take classes and things like that.
DeleteThis is amazing news! I hope these boys will be able to to become their forever children since that is something they have wanted for so long but if not, I hope this will still be a very fulfilling and joyful time for them.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy for them. They appear thrilled but knowing this may be temporary. They are wise and will weather this either way. It is funny the way life goes. It’s a winding path for sure. Wishing you all good things.
ReplyDeleteMay God bless them as a family. They are now parents and the boys will have so much love!
ReplyDeleteI was a foster parent. I was a licensed daycare provider. One of the children needed placement. I became her Kinship foster parent. I then took the classes to become her official foster parent. After 3 years we were able to finalized our adoption. It was a wonderful blessing we had never planned.
ReplyDeleteSo happy for them! They are the sweetest couple and so great with children! God bless!
ReplyDeleteSo weird to refer to them as "kids". Seems so dismissive and disrespectful
ReplyDeleteI'm curious what generation you're from. I was born in the 70s, and children have been referred to as kids for as long as I remember.
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