Why Siblings Mattered
For siblings, being together is where they truly belong. In this blog series, James and Mark share their adoption journey and how it inspired them to open their hearts and home to two brothers, giving them the chance to grow-up, side by side as a family.
Names have been changed to protect the identities of the children and family. The family’s story has been shared with permission.
When James and Mark began their adoption journey, they were only approved to adopt one child.
In fact, for much of the process, that was exactly what they imagined.
“We only ever planned on one,” they explain.
At the time, there were plenty of practical reasons behind the decision. Like many couples, they were trying to balance what family life might look like with the life they had already built together.
But as the adoption process progressed, they found themselves revisiting the conversation again and again.
A Question That Kept Coming Back
Throughout the assessment process, one question kept resurfacing.
What if, in a few years’ time, they decided they wanted another child?
As they learned more about adoption, they discovered that bringing another child into the family could mean going through much of the process again. That gave them pause for thought.
“The process was brilliant, but it’s a huge commitment,” says James.
“It’s emotional, it’s intensive and it becomes a big part of your life.”
The more they talked about it, the more they started wondering whether they should think bigger from the outset.
More Than Numbers
Their decision wasn’t simply based on practicality.
Both James and Mark understood the importance of sibling relationships. They had seen the support, friendship and connection siblings can provide throughout childhood and adulthood.
For children who have already experienced uncertainty and change, that bond can be especially important.
“You can’t replace that bond,” they say.
“No matter how much brothers and sisters argue, they’re part of each other’s story.”
The idea of keeping siblings together started to feel increasingly important.
Twice the Love and Laughter
Over time, their thinking shifted. Instead of asking whether they could parent two children, they began asking why they wouldn’t consider it.
“If we’re going to build a family, why not keep brothers and sisters together if we can?” they said.
Yes, adopting siblings would mean more responsibility. But it would also mean more opportunity.
And, as they put it:
“You get twice the love and twice the laughter.”
Without realising it, that shift in mindset was preparing them for the most important day of their adoption journey.
Because very soon, they would meet two brothers who would change everything.
Looking Ahead
They still didn’t know who their future children would be.
But they were now open to siblings.
And that decision would lead them to an activity day they’d never forget.
Look out for Blog 4 in the series:
The Little Boy Sitting Alone Colouring
In a room full of children, one quiet little boy caught James’s attention. What happened next would change their lives forever.
