I decided to adopt a toddler at the age of 50; I like to be a parent again

Someone once said that love finds you in the most unexpected places. And what my life is today has never been more true.

I've always been a proud family and a father. I have two raised daughters, 21 and 26, and they have taught me the greatest hours of life.

In my opinion, I was constantly thinking that I had been made by having children because I had raised them into successful adults. It was time for my wife and Mina to be back and retiring somewhere on the island. I didn't know my third child was on the way – hopefully my last.

A visit that changed my life

When my wife and I have free time on weekends, we enjoy driving to a nearby orphanage and spend time with the kids. We help caregivers eating, cleaning and reassuring their inland children by playing all kinds of games with young people. During one such visit, we met Avery, an amazing 2-year-old boy.

Having lost both parents, he was new to the orphanage and as soon as we saw him, it was like joining our soul. I wore him, fed him and shook him to sleep, and he didn't want to leave my hands all the time.

Avery spent every moment looking at me so many expectations and expectations. It was almost as if he were trying to communicate something that only he and I understood. Nor did I want to let him go, and the only time I did, it was when we had to go home, and he had a big breakdown.

I couldn't leave the little boy when we left. I continued for days as we had a special connection, and from there I went to an orphanage several times to spend time with him and play Lego bricks. I hit myself on the young boy who pulled me even further. It felt like a father-son's connection that I couldn't explain exactly. Children's home careers noticed our connection, and when Avery turned 3, they told me he was ready for adoption.

This meant that people who want to have children were able to meet Avery and fall in love as much as I can and may -then to bring him home. I didn't want to risk it.

We adopted him

I remember thinking, “I'm 50, with bad backs and legs that sometimes hurt for days. How can I handle a toddler?” Not to mention that I didn't even remember the first thing for 3 years of maintenance or changing diapers. But most of the time, the need for Avery weighed my fears about a happy and stable home.

I talked to my wife about it; He felt like a little boy who had grown up on us. Of course, we should make a lot of changes and he would need the help of a nanny, but besides, he was excited that he went on an adoption trip with me. At first, we thought that our age disqualify us from the process, but in the orphanage, we voted for us when they saw the emotional connection we had created with the child.

We started the legal process and Avery was temporarily placed with us. During this time, we received countless visits from social and adoption workers who wanted to ensure that we had a stable environment for our little boy. They recommended parents' courses and we sat down through interviews. When they were confident in our ability to accept a toddler through a lawyer, we submitted legal adoption to the paperwork and, after playing a long game, adopted our son legally.

How adopting at the age of 50 changed me

I never imagined a stroller as an old man, but I'm officially. I can't keep up with how much is running around in Avery Park, but re -discovering parenting has been one of the best things that happen to us.

Experience has been a mixed bag of emotions. I fluctuate that I am very excited about panic because I am not sure if I do things right. The heights are much higher and the lowestings are lower than you think.

We have had to make our finances, think about time management, and even lead a healthy lifestyle to be here as long as all our children need us. At the age of 50, adoption has taught me that you have never put it down as a parent. You make mistakes and learn a lot of lessons because becoming a parent is a journey. It has also made me look at myself and my opportunities through a new lens. My values ​​seem stronger and I have a daily desire to do better for my son.

I have also realized that the final phase may be just a new start to something completely worth and unexpected.