A young mum who opened up her home to teenagers in her 20s has revealed she's not always taken seriously as a parent.
Teachers Tasia Taylor, 23, and husband Drew, 25, took in children Rory, 13, and Tamiray, 15, last year, but while the happy family think the decision was the 'best thing they have ever done', the couple have faced criticism over their choice.
Moreover, the pair aren't always taken seriously as parents, Tasia revealed.
The mum from Dardanelle, Arkansas in the US, explained: "We honestly look younger than we are, although we do not feel the odd age difference in our family dynamic."
Yet, for some, this is not the case. "People consistently have something to say about the matter and our requests as parents are not always taken seriously," Tasia said.
The pair, who have 'extensive training on trauma in adolescents' say they 'are working hard every day to be the best support system [they] can be' for both girls.
"Becoming an empty nester at 28 sounds pretty good," Tasia added.
Both educators have always been passionate about working with families, so they started to work with the Department of Children and Family Services in 2022, keen to open their home to foster kids.
The couple originally decided to open their home to kids up to six years old, but in the middle of the process, they were asked to take on Rory, who Tasia taught in school.
Tamiray, who is Tasia's cousin, joined their family soon after. Tasia and Drew now have full custody. Despite having a loving and happy family life, the family dynamic has come with its challenges.
The proud mum explained: "We had originally decided to open our home for ages birth to six years old.
"We started the training and required background checks to do so. In the middle of the process, we were asked to take on Rory, our youngest.
"She moved in with us on April 1 and we had less than 24 hours' notice before becoming parents.
"When Rory first moved in, we didn't know that we would be able to adopt her, or if she would even want to be adopted, but we knew that we would be a safe place for her."
Tasia continued: "Rory was adopted on December 19 2022, the biggest deciding factor in her adoption was her consent. She was of age to agree to be adopted and she actually requested that we do so.
"We did not push this idea upon her, and she worked with a legal advocate, through the CASA program (Court Appointed Special Advocates) to decide if this was the best thing for her. She fit into our family so well and we loved having her in our home."
Tamiray, who has lived with her grandmother since she was two, moved into Tasia and Drew's home with Rory permanently, in July 2022.
She added: "Tamiray is not adopted and I don't think we are going to pursue that route just due to her already being related to us. We have legal custody."
The new family report that the experience has been rewarding, as the loving home and support system has benefited them all.
Tasia said: "There is no love quite like a parent's love and there have been so many good moments. One special moment was the first time Rory was away from us since moving in. She had gone to church camp and she messaged me and said, 'I love you as much as possible'.
"She hadn't been with us very long and I knew that she meant this. I knew that although she was dealing with hard things that no child should ever have to go through, she did love me with everything that she could and I also knew that would grow."
Now "I love you as much as possible" has become the family's slogan and mantra. They even had it printed on shirts they wore to celebrate the adoption.
Talking of the teens, Tasia said the healing process has started to manifest itself in both girls. She added: "It is so sweet to watch the girls interact together as sisters after experiencing so much serious and separate losses.
"They are learning to love and trust again and I am just glad I get to be part of the journey for that."
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