"Let them be," he told the parents. "Let them make noise and run around. You won't be able to control them anyway."
When it was his turn before the judge, 4-year-old Andrew Kershaw commandeered the judge's microphone, obviously pleased with the sound of his voice. He announced clearly that he wanted to be adopted. He was, along with his two biological sisters, Brittany, 9 and Chelsie, 7.
Their adoptive mother, Toni Kershaw of Middle River, said she had been the children's foster mother for the past three years, taking all three into her home when she learned that they would otherwise be split up.
Andrea and Steve Hawley of Reisterstown also adopted siblings, Jasmine, 7, and Marissa, 21 months. They said they waited to adopt Jasmine until they could be sure that Marissa's adoption would go through, too. Both had been their foster children.
The family, which also has an 11-year-old daughter, was relieved yesterday, Andrea Hawley said.
"The not knowing has been the biggest challenge, not knowing whether they were going or staying," she said.
David Roland, a single father from Owings Mills, finalized the adoption of his foster son, El-Shaddai Augustus-Roland, 15.
"I feel like this is the next good step in my life," said El-Shaddai, a ninth-grader at Owings Mills High School.
Roland, 30, said El-Shaddai was placed with him in foster care when the boy was 7. For a long time, Roland said, he didn't feel ready to pursue adoption. He focused on setting clear consequences to help his foster son modify behavior problems. He promised that if behavior improved, he would adopt the boy. Yesterday, family, friends and county social workers stood up and cheered when the adoption was finalized.
"It means permanency," said Roland, who also has two foster sons. "It's hard sometimes, but I've never had a job that was more rewarding."
