*Photo credit: The Spectrum

Tiffany and Ryan McDonald recently shared their story on The Spectrum about deciding to become foster parents in their mid-20s. After the Utah couple completed the required foster care classes, they received a call about 12-year-old Rochelle and 13-year-old Rosalee.

Worried about the girls being older and possibly a bad influence on her much younger children, Tiffany initially said no. After thinking about what these girls had been through and the challenges they were facing, the McDonalds decided to give it a shot and care for Rochelle and Rosalee.

There were challenges to overcome, but the family worked through the issues as if Rochelle and Rosalee were their own children. The McDonalds were dedicated to building up the girls’ self esteem and making them feel like part of the family. Eight years later, Rochelle and Rosalee are young adults but still feel at home at the McDonald house. Tiffany credits communication and unconditional love as two very important ingredients.

Click here to read the entire article about the McDonald family. If you are thinking about becoming a foster parent or hoping to adopt, consider the benefits of caring for an older youth.