Barry and Robin prayed about becoming foster parents for years, but life circumstances never allowed that vision to become a reality. But when half of the students in Robin’s new classroom had Child Protective Services involvement in their lives, the Wrights knew the time was right to become licensed for foster care.
Robin and her husband Barry are no strangers to a house full of
children. Married almost 18 years, the couple has raised five boys, two now teenagers and three young adults. But an empty nest was on the horizon. “My goal was to be finished having babies by the time I was 30 so that
I was still young when they left,” Robin said. “Those plans have changed.” After completing foster parent training, the Wrights received their first call from Buckner Foster Care and Adoption about a sibling group of three children – Anna, 7, Riley, then 5, and Sarah, then 3* – who needed a safe home. The trio was removed from their home after CPS received reports of them being left alone for long periods of time. Anna was taking care of her brother and sister. All three kids tested positive for methamphetamines. The girls arrived one evening last May. “The first day with [Anna and
Sarah] really went fairly smoothly, but we were very concerned about their brother not being with them,” Robin said. Riley could not be placed in the Wright home because he needed
a separate space of his own, and the Wrights did not have another enclosed bedroom. So Barry recruited a family construction crew and the men built a modular room that weekend – in 36 hours. “That was something we didn’t ask them to do. That’s a lot to ask,”
said Buckner Foster Care and Adoption Home Developer Danielle Nicholson. “They insisted, ‘This is what’s best for the kids, and that’s
what we want to do.’” Riley arrived three days later. “At the time, our goal was just get him there,” Robin said firmly. “So
we did. And he’s still here.” The children jumped right into summer fun – Camp Buckner,
swimming pools, fireworks – and new, thrilling experiences. “We’re watching the fireworks on the Fourth of July, and they’re all
just in awe. Right in the middle of the show, Riley turned around and said, ‘When are the fireworks gonna start?’” Robin remembered. “But that’s how everything is or has been with them. It’s a new world.” Riley also celebrated his sixth birthday since arriving at the Wrights. “When I was trying to get him ready that day, he was literally bouncing.
I said, ‘Riley, I can’t fix your hair, dude. You’re going to have to calm down and let me get your hair fixed,’” Robin recounted with a chuckle. “He said, ‘I know, I just never had a birthday party. I’m so excited.’” The new experiences extended beyond fun firsts. The Wrights are
heavily involved in their local church, and Robin and Barry see the impact that is making on the children. “It’s been very refreshing to see the innocence of kids who have
never been exposed to anything spiritual,” Robin said. “We’ll be eating in a rush, and they’re hollering, ‘Don’t forget to pray for me! Come pray for us!’ Those are some of the sweetest moments when you realize this is sinking in.” While the kids have progressed significantly through new
44 BUCKNER TODAY • Spring 2016
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