I’ll begin from the start. I go by the name Kimberly Holden. Since I was a young girl, i have always hoped to adopt. I observed three of my aunts caring for kids who were not their biological offspring, and that profoundly motivated me mostly my Aunt Gloria, whom we warmly referred to as Mama. Before she left us, I leaned in close and told her, “Mama, i am going to become a foster mom.”
At 21, I tied the knot and continued to wish for adoption. Unfortunately, my husband did not have that dream. We parted after nearly three years, and my passion for support children only deepened.
In 2011, I started being a foster caregiver, though I was a single woman.
I felt uneasy, particularly since I was the only single individual in my training class, but I understood this was my calling. During the years, I cared for five kids, all of whom were later unified with their original families. Every farewell tired my heart, so I chose to pause for emotional healing.
About a year later, I sensed God urging me to return. I cried, but I realized I could not say no. A week after, I met Elizabeth an 8-month-old infant seeking a family. I realized she was not Black, but that did not make a difference. She craved affection, and I was prepared to provide it. We were indifferent to our differences; all we noticed were the hearts of one another.
When I was in public, many individuals frequently stared at me oddly or inquired if I was her caregiver. Some even believed I had taken her hostage. In shops and parks, individuals would inquire why I, a Black woman, was attended by a child who appeared white. I began to exclaim, “Mommy loves you!” And Elizabeth would say, “I adore you, Mommy!”—only to get others to stop looking.
In 2015, Elizabeth’s social worker informed me that she had a baby brother named Edgar who was also in need of a home. Initially, I felt anxious since my job did not provide motherhood leave. I initially refused, but God had other plans. That year, I took Elizabeth as my own. In 2016, I received another call regarding Edgar and I agreed.
It was a lengthy journey, but on July 6, 2018, I brought Edgar into my home as well. Now my family is whole. We are a transracial family. Elizabeth and Edgar possess heritage from Puerto Rico, Greece, and the Cherokee.
Individuals continue to challenge me and even blame me for not being worried about Black children. Yet I feel deep down I followed to God’s design, and love excels color.
