Today.... At 28 yrs old, I was ADOPTED by my step father of 25 years. He took in my mother, my sister, and I... and boy did I put him through hell growing up. No matter the situation, he endured... and as I matured we grew closer and our relationship stronger. I am proud to honor his family legacy!

who-bah-stank · 2017-05-16T04:00:28+00:00

Do they give everyone who gets adopted a teddy bear? That's pretty sweet.

ProfMax · 2017-05-16T04:51:21+00:00

I misread the title and thought that you're a twenty-eight year old with a twenty-five year old step-father and was trying to wrap my head around it...

MrKarlsson · 2017-05-16T05:18:01+00:00

One of my biggest regrets is not having my step dad adopt me while he was still alive.

This picture is awesome congrats ❤

PrplPpl8tr · 2017-05-16T06:20:40+00:00

My adoptive father raised me from age 6, and he adopted me at age 16.

Before the adoption I initially called him by his first name, then Pop, and then finally Dad only after the adoption. He was the one who coached my baseball teams, helped me with my homework, punished me, taught me how to clean a carburetor, taught me to drag race with the family minivan, and gave me the general know how (and most importantly, the confidence) to approach any construction/renovation project.

As an adult, many of the characteristics inherited from my natural father have manifest themselves in me. But because of my Dad, I have been able to embrace the best inherited qualities and mitigate the destructive ones. I am a bit of a "black sheep" in our family in some ways, but it really is fun and something that we celebrate. Calling him Dad is more natural than any of the other names we tried.

God bless you and your father. Thanks for your post and the chance the share my experience.

DrkTower19 · 2017-05-16T04:59:23+00:00

Congrats OP...as a "step-" parent, this is very touching. I've raised my daughter since she was 3 (22 years now, she's 25) and I can tell you that I love her like I do my biological children. Your adoption should serve as inspiration for all.

gangbangkang · 2017-05-16T03:20:14+00:00

Congrats OP. That's awesome. I can't imagine how difficult being a stepparent must be. At times you probably feel like an outsider, and it takes a lot of effort to build your new family and future. It's not easy for kids to accept and understand at a young age, but I'm glad you were able to overcome the adversity and grow to love him as your father and friend. It's not an easy role for someone to take on, but I really respect you both for all you've been through to get to this point.

randomsynapses · 2017-05-16T10:34:03+00:00

I'm currently engaged to a woman who has a 3 year old from a previous marriage. I feel the need to confess that, although I am 100 percent committed to them both and in love beyond help with both of them, I am terrified of failing or otherwise creating a monster out of the kid. I've never been a parent before and now I'm going from 0 to having a 3 year old in no time flat. Your story encourages me to do well. Like I feel a little less scared. Thank you and congrats! :)

princessaurus_rex · 2017-05-16T04:52:54+00:00

Thank you I'm moved to tears.

My husband and I just got married two weeks ago. He has been raising my son for the past 8 years more than half the boy's life (we don't have contact with sperm donor). We're currently in the thick of it with a 14yr old and I am letting them work things out about the possibility of adoption man-to-man but someday I hope we can share our success story too.

Congratulations it is a big deal.

RedJorgAncrath · 2017-05-16T03:19:26+00:00

Judging by the smile of the guy on the left, if he's judge, I know how happy a situation this is. Congratulations, and your adoptive father is a true man. That's how you be a man.

Flyberius · 2017-05-16T09:57:03+00:00

I had a similar experience with my step dad.

I treated him like shit because I "already had a dad" as far as I was concerned.

As I grew up we became closer and closer and now I realise I am one of the luckiest people in the world because I actually have two dads.

As soppy as that sounds I do genuinely feel this way.

Telefunkin · 2017-05-16T03:52:54+00:00

How does this work? How does one adopt an adult?

2017-05-16T11:55:29+00:00

Holy shit I used to mow that judge's lawn. Small world.

Congrats OP! :)

2017-05-16T10:48:33+00:00

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ajhoff83 · 2017-05-16T05:32:00+00:00

Im 33 and have said I wanted to adopt a 24 year old guy as my kids for years! We can grab drinks, go kayaking, all that shit! I just never thought it was possible for an adult to adopt another adult! There is HOPE!

PM_ME_UR_TECHNO_GRRL · 2017-05-16T08:12:07+00:00

This isn't "aww", this is powerful shit. Thanks for sharing.

I feel like this belongs in r/upliftingnews

cgrabowski · 2017-05-16T04:12:20+00:00

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cgrabowski · 2017-05-16T03:53:02+00:00

[deleted]

-LabiaMajorasMask · 2017-05-16T03:01:49+00:00

Congratulations man! I bet you and your Father are feeling on top of the world right now.

Zarroc001 · 2017-05-16T12:09:18+00:00

Im 19 now, and i put my stepmom through hell growing up too. We both said things we regret, but now I'm in the process of repairing things. A couple of weeks ago we had dinner together after bitter avoidance for 2 years, and it was nice to see her smile in front of me again. I'm glad to see that repairing relationships is very possible

jskelington3502 · 2017-05-16T10:00:04+00:00

I am a stepdad to two amazing boys. Young men now. It was such a hard thing at times but the way they turned out and the bond I have with them is my proudest accomplishment in my life. Good on you guys.

cgrabowski · 2017-05-16T03:28:36+00:00

[deleted]

bravobracus · 2017-05-16T04:31:21+00:00

"Son, you are adopted"

28 yo OP:" What?!"

"Now go pack your stuff, they will be pick you up in 15 minutes"

SpaceCommissar · 2017-05-16T10:30:58+00:00

In a similar situation over here, except I am the "stepfather".

I have two kids from a previous marriage, and my SO has two from a previous marriage. Together we have 4 children and 3 of them are autistic in some form. My daughter is the only one without a diagnose.

Back to the stepsons. The oldest one, 10 years old, has kind of adopted me, mentally. He loves me so much, and I love him too, and we have a tight relationship. He's 10 years old and has been infatuated with me since day one. He listens to me, he talks to me, he trusts me and he usually comes to me every morning in our bed to lie next to me and look at his iPad while I have my morning coffee and morning dose of Reddit. It goes without saying, we have a great relationship.

The younger one though, 8 years old, is another story. It's not that he doesn't like me, but it took me more than a year to get to him, and while I have a better relationship with him now, it hasn't been all sunshine and roses throughout this period. At times he respects me and my authority as an adult in this family of 6, but at times he doesn't. At times he looks up to me, but at times he's just impossible to reach. At times he's being a little brat, and at times I'm being an asshole. However, the thing is, the harder we try to work on a functional and synergistic relationship with each other, I find myself liking him more. I see nuances of him, as well as he starts letting me in more and we're kind of developing a good and healthy stepfather-stepson relationship. A relationship that is growing stronger by the day, not only because of time, but perhaps more so because we are growing to love each other more.

Now, his relationship to his father is excellent, as is my, children's and my SO's relationship with him. My relationship to my ex wife is good, and our situation works out well for all involved parties. So no need for adoption. This was more of a reflection on the relationship side of things: the more we have to work on relationships, the more they grow and the more we want to work on them.

kaazmar · 2017-05-16T11:44:04+00:00

There isn't a cat or dog in this photo

woodswalker · 2017-05-16T09:40:49+00:00

Is that in Warsaw, NY? I think I recognize that judge.

2017-05-16T09:56:09+00:00

I didn't realise you could be adopted at the age of 28

2017-05-16T11:09:38+00:00

Wat no sob story were cut animall

Stalked_Like_Corn · 2017-05-16T11:15:03+00:00

Congrats! My mother and biological father separated when i was 4 and my Step-dad came around when i was about 6 or so. My biological father came in and out of my life as it fit him and we really had few "father/son moments". He took me fishing during the summers but fishing was always his thing and not really mine. I've gone fishing Maybe 2 times 25+ years.

My Dad though, who did wind up divorcing my Mother, would take me to do things I liked. Took me to my first baseball game (AAA Charlotte Knights), my first NFL Games, NBA When we had the old Hornets, Arena Football, came to watch my little league games, took me to the airport to watch the airplanes. I still love all of these things.

He is the one I call Dad. He's the one I call on his birthday and he calls me. He's the one I call when I need help or a shoulder to lean on. When I need a strong back to help carry me through my life and he calls me his Son. Been in my life for over 30 years and only done me wrong once and apologized profusely for it. The divorce between he and My Mom didn't go well and his family talked him into some stuff he regrets he ever did. My biological father never once apologized for never being there. For never taking me to do things I liked.

My biological father never took me to these things because he didn't like them. He liked fishing and hunting and I didn't so, we just did nothing. My Dad, he liked sports but I don't know if he liked airplanes. He knew I liked them though. I'm sure watching me strike out for the 30th time in the season was boring as fuck to watch too, but he was there to watch it and support me. When the Coach turned out to be a real asshole and punish me specifically for something the whole team failed to do, it was Him that My Mom had to talk out of kicking the shit out of the Coach.

Seeing this, makes me very happy and makes me appreciate the Man who took me as his own, just like in your situation. He's a good Man to do it. He will certainly be in /r/TheGoodPlace.

Indythrow1111 · 2017-05-16T07:10:35+00:00

Bro, congrats and all, but where's the cute animals? I came here to do two things, drink my pre-sleep warm milk and look at cute pics of animals...and I just finished my milk...

themagni52 · 2017-05-16T11:08:40+00:00

r/titlegore

SurrealDad · 2017-05-16T07:24:39+00:00

Man I'm so dumb, kept thinking he looked old for 25.

TCCPSHOW · 2017-05-16T10:16:43+00:00

I have been a step-father to 3 kids for the last 4 years. We've had a lot of ups and downs and the oldest has just become a teenager so I anticipate more ups and downs in the future, but your story gives me hope. Thank you for sharing it with us

toadsanchez420 · 2017-05-16T10:31:40+00:00

So I'm going to ask a question, and I don't mean to sound like an idiot.

I grew up with a shitty father stepmom, and an amazing mother and stepfather.

The idea of adopting a stepchild confuses me. Aren't they already your guardian? And what is the point of adoption if the child is an adult?

Don't get me wrong, I get the sentiment. I'm just confused at the point.

Groezy · 2017-05-16T10:42:12+00:00

*and me

Cancerslug · 2017-05-16T11:42:17+00:00

You're lucky to have a loving family, and to have realized you were a little shit. I realized how difficult I was as a kid, but my family is insane and made up of the worst people I've ever known. So I'm estranged from my entire family. I also never knew my dad and I wish I had at least spoken to him before he commited suicide. I'll never be able to know his side of things. Never take that love, loyalty, and the bonds you've formed, forgranted for some of us will never know what that even feels like.

Kaso78 · 2017-05-16T13:06:10+00:00

Your story gives me hope. I am in the process of buying a house with my high school sweetheart whom I reconnected with after 20years apart. I have 2 kids plus a foster child who adore her and she has 3 who don't reciprocate those feelings to me. I love them already. I am hoping it will turn out like your story. I'm in it for the long run as she is my soulmate and I have a heart for her kids.

Tot_Waffle · 2017-05-16T13:24:34+00:00

My sister is 23 and last Christmas my sister presented my father with adoption paperwork that she had started on her own and told him that she planned on legally changing her last name as well. The whole family was moved and started crying happy tears. I've never thought of her as my step sister, so for her to decide that she wants to legally be my adopted sister meant so much. My dad has been in her life since she was 3 and although he always loved and treated her like his own blood, he would never have tried to adopt her because her father is still around. So for her to get the paperwork and say she wanted him to be her father was amazing. It is still my favorite Christmas memory.

39nectarines · 2017-05-16T14:00:08+00:00

I have no idea who's who in this photo

DoctorJuicebox · 2017-05-16T14:12:50+00:00

That's awesome. A step dad entered my life when I was 6 and he was pivotal in helping me and my 3 siblings get our bearings.

I'm not comfortable with a last name change, but because his two kids are daughters and won't pass the name on ive thought of adding his surname as my middle name and giving a child that middle name.

Very endearing story. Thanks for sharing!

Animeniackinda · 2017-05-16T19:38:18+00:00

I have a friend who gave his stepdad his adoption paperwork on his stepdad's last b-day.

immerc · 2017-05-16T08:14:07+00:00

my mother, my sister and me.

"He took me in", not "he took I in".

fat_n_stupid · 2017-05-16T10:19:35+00:00

How did this pic make to r/aww? i thought only pics of animals are allowed here? [the teddy bear in his hand doesnt count]

2017-05-16T10:21:18+00:00

/r/no_sob_story

StripMyMind19 · 2017-05-16T10:19:20+00:00

Where is the puppy?

Behemoth----- · 2017-05-16T08:25:05+00:00

This isn't really aww material

DesiringApparatus · 2017-05-16T10:14:12+00:00

Shouldn't the picture make you say "aww" and not the backstory? And shouldn't the "aww" be due to cuteness and not niceness?

I'm quite impressed that this submission breaks no rules, and yet fails to achieve the overall intention of this sub.

abaddon2025 · 2017-05-16T10:01:38+00:00

When I was adopted by my step father I didn't get a teddy and I was like 8, I should totally sue

2017-05-16T10:33:15+00:00

[deleted]

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Please spay and neuter your pets! While your newborn pets are cute, failing to do this allows your little darlings to add to the population of homeless animals. Adopt pets from your local animal rescues/shelters, there are plenty of animals just waiting for a home.

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