At 14, I Became A Parent To My 6-Year
A Painful Separation and Fight for Custody
At 14, I was left to care for my brother Samuel, but foster care separated us. During visits, he’d ask, “When can I come home?” and I’d always say, “Soon.” By 16, I worked three jobs and attended night school, hoping to reunite with him. At a custody hearing, the judge said, “Brad, you are just too young,” while case worker Francis told me, “I am aware you are doing everything you can, but it’s just not enough.”
Support and Hope
After a tough day, my landlady Mrs. Rachel comforted me with cookies and said, “Fix up the spare room upstairs. Same rent.” Her kindness gave me new hope.
Proving I Could Care for Samuel
I painted the spare room blue—Samuel’s favorite color. When Francis visited again, she said kinship care was best. In court, I said, “I might be young, but I’ve cared for Samuel his whole life and I can give him a home where he feels safe and loved.”
A New Beginning
Even Samuel’s foster parents supported me. The judge ruled, “Samuel is at his best with his brother.” We celebrated with pizza—the day our family finally came together.
