Single Mom Declares ‘Love Has No Color’ As She Shares Journey of Adopting Three Kids

Oct 11, 2022 by apost team

Not all heroes wear capes. Sometimes they simply decide to make a big difference in the lives of children. Whether it be fostering or adopting children, an individual who decides to take on this huge responsibility and commitment can really make an important impact.

Adoption often becomes difficult for single adults, especially when multiple children are involved in the adoption. Fortunately, this didn’t prove to be an issue for one woman.

Love knows no ethnicity, religion or nationality. Although she is often asked if her children are hers, Ohioan Treka Engleman doesn't let the comment affect her or her children's happiness. Treka, a math teacher, became a foster mom from age 21, saying she had no specifications about the childrens' gender or race. She then decided to officially adopt the children in 2019, providing them with a loving home.

According to the Adoption Network, more than 33% of Americans have considered adopting, although only 2% actually have adopted a child or multiple children. There are roughly 140,000 children adopted by American families every year, and about one in 50 children are adopted. 

There are also different types of adoption, including private and open. The former means that the adoptive parents become the sole caretaker of the adopted child, and that the biological parents are no longer involved in their lives. The latter option is more open-ended and allows the child to have a relationship with both his or her adoptive parents and biological parents.

For Treka, adopting her three children has been a struggle, but extremely rewarding.

Treka Engleman hatte keine einfache Kindheit. Sie ist die jüngste von 11 Geschwistern und ihre Mutter verstarb, als sie nur sechs Jahre alt war, wie Metro berichtet. Obwohl der Verlust des Familienoberhaupts den Engleman Kindern sehr viel Schmerzen bereitet hat, haben sie sich immer umeinander gekümmert und haben das beste aus ihrer unkonventionellen Situation gemacht.

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Treka Engleman didn't have an easy childhood. She is the youngest of 11 siblings and her mother passed away when she was only 6 years old, Metro reported. Although the loss of their matriarch hurt the Engleman family deeply, they always cared for one another and did the best they could to make their unconventional situation work.

Treka knew that she wanted to be there for children who'd lost their parents when she grew up. This is why she applied to be a foster mother at the tender age of 21 years old. In her application, Treka chose not to make any requests for a child of any particular race. Instead, she just wanted to be there for any young person who needed her, as reported here in The Atlanta Black Star.

A 5-day-old baby boy named Elijah was soon placed in Treka's care, according to The Atlanta Black Star. Treka cared for him as if he were her very own. Later, two sisters named Mercedes and Alexis were placed in Treka's loving home.

The little family got along beautifully and Treka felt nothing but maternal love for her three foster children. However, this family was unusual in the eyes of many. While Treka is Black, Elijah, Mercedes and Alexis are white.

“Yes I’ve had my fair share of stares while we’re out in public, but we just keep walking by unbothered,” she wrote on Love What Matters. “I’ve had people ask me, ‘Oh, are you babysitting?’ and my response is no, they are my children. No questions asked. I never say ‘foster children,’ but my children. Because that’s what they are and always will be.”

"Love has no color in my home and they are loved unconditionally," Treka added.

However, the path to Treka’s happy family was also filled with many challenges, as she wrote on Love What Matters.

“For years, I wanted to be a foster mom. Yet I was always hesitant to start the journey into foster care because I didn’t think a single person like myself could be a foster mom (no spouse, no children). I didn’t think I would qualify, but I did some research, asked around, and made some phone calls anyway. As it turns out, you just have to be at least the age of 21, you can be single or married!” Treka explained.

After attending obligatory foundational classes on adopting for two months, Treka wrote that she still lacked 100% confidence.

“After my classes were over, I had my home study and I was approved for up to four children. I thought, ‘Woah…that’s a lot! Am I ready for this?’ But I was ready and I knew in my heart I could do this,” she continued.

Now, Treka is officially the adoptive mother to Elijah, Mercedes and Alexis after their adoption was approved in 2019. 

“November 1, 2019, was one of the best days of our lives. The day we became Team Engleman! I went from just me to being a family of four. This is not the end either, but right now we are enjoying each other,” the happy mama wrote. Treka ended her post with words of encouragement for anyone thinking about fostering children, saying:

“If you are considering fostering or adopting I say go for it, if it’s in your heart to do it. Just knowing that you have helped a boy or girl find a home and a reason to be happy is one of the best feelings in the world.”

Die kleine Familie versteht sich wunderbar und Treka liebt ihre drei Pflegekinder über alles. Allerdings ist die Familie in den Augen von manchen Menschen sehr ungewöhnlich. Treka ist Afro-Amerikanerin, während Elijah, Mercedes und Alexis hellhäutig sind.

“Ja, wir werden sehr oft in der Öffentlichkeit angestarrt, aber wir lassen uns davon nicht beeindrucken," schreibt sie in Love What Matters. “Ich wurde gefragt, ob ich die Babysitterin sei, worauf ich mit Nein antwortete. Sie sind meine Kinder. Ich sage nie 'Pflegekinder'. Sie sind meine Kinder. Denn genau das sind sie und werden sie auch immer sein."

"Liebe kennt keine Hautfarbe in meinem Haushalt und wir lieben einander bedingungslos," fügt Treka hinzu.

Letztes Jahr konnte Treka ihre Kinder endlich offiziell adoptieren.

What do you think of Treka's commitment to caring for children? Do you know anyone with a similar passion as Treka? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your loved ones, too.