I’m a young single adoptive parent of 3 kids ages 6, 8, and 9 (ten in a month) all bio siblings from same parents. I’ve been in contact with the bio family I have spoken to great gramma via social media she sent me lots of baby pictures of them and I send her new ones. But I’ve had a very good relationship with their aunt from the very start (I started foster them at 21 and adopted at 22) we have met up several times both with the kids and just us two she has even been to our new apartment. She is young, 20 if I’m remembering correctly, and I’m 23 now so we get along well and have similar views in life (I’m gay and she comes from a very conservative family but she isn’t and is supportive) nonetheless I still want my kids to have a relationship with their bio family.

We have recently moved out of state but even prior to moving we didn’t see bio family that often (except the aunt) as they still lived quite a ways away and had conflicting schedules. Bio parents are not in the picture right now as the father I have not been able to contact and from what I heard from bio fam hasn’t been around even prior to foster care. Mom and I had been in contact via social media until she disappeared for a while which I assumed maybe she just needed a break but have learned from family she is currently serving jail time and then will be attending rehab as she’s trying to get sober.

Prior to foster care the kids were taken care of by their great grandmother and the aunt lived their as well since she was a minor when they were born. So they were pretty close with them rather than bio parents as from what I here from the kids and bio fam is they were pretty absent while struggling with their own personal issues. They all have memories of their bio family but my youngest is pretty stand off ish toward them as understandably he was young and doesn’t have much conscious memory of life before foster care.

Anyways my kids start school next month and I have been talking with bio aunt who now has her own place about potential visits. We have been discussing having the kids come down (if they want to like I said youngest is still on the fence) for a week and stay with her and spend some time with great grandma. Great GM and GP have their own farm and are very healthy and lively for their age. The idea is still up in the air at this point but should we go ahead with it we’d obviously heavily discuss the details not just send off the kids and say have at it bring them back next week.

My friends and family think it is a terrible idea and I’m being young and naive and have made me start to second guess my judgement. However, I am a former foster kid and they have no experience or education when it comes to foster kids or adoption so I’d love to hear input from people who actually do have knowledge on the situation and could provide a better understanding.