The Adoption Story

After reading a Mother's Day newspaper article, Baby Boomers Tom and Jean Gaunt (of Indianapolis, Indiana) decided to wave goodbye to there four year-old empty nest and attempt the second largest sibling group adoption in United States history. As the story unfolds, we learn of the abuse the children suffered at the hands of their stepfather and watch as they prepare for a possible new life with the Gaunt family. Additionally, during the trial period, Tom and Jean discover that the road to adoption is even more difficult than they had originally imagined. The decision was not without controversy within the Gaunt family and viewers will learn of a past that could ultimately threaten the adoption or vindicate Tom and Jean. Sensitive and affectionate in its portrayal, the film chronicles the evolution of the adoption from moments of doubt to moments of hope and triumph.  A Place Called Home gives viewers a rare glimpse into the emotional bonding of two families as they confront their pasts and work for a better future … together.

“People ask me. ‘What about gay adoptions? Interracial? Single Parent’ I say. Hey fine, as long as it works for the child and the family is responsible. My big stand is this: Every child deserves a home and love. Period.”

- Dave Thomas, Founder of Wendy’s / Adopted Child

Context
Adoption touches everyone’s life in one way or another. Many Americans have a family member or relative that has been adopted at some point in their family history. Those that have not, usually have friends, classmates or co-workers that have thought seriously about or considered adopting a child. According to a 2002 study commissioned by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, four out of every ten American adults have considered adoption for their own families. Additionally, sixty-four percent have experienced adoption within their own families.

On the other side of the issue, there are over 150,000 children without permanent homes in North America’s foster care system alone. These numbers are staggering and a direct outgrowth of contemporary societal concerns such as child abuse, substance abuse and teen pregnancy. However, as the above numbers suggest, there are very positive signs that adoption is being viewed as an appealing alternative in establishing permanency for children.

Despite the high level of interest, the pursuit of an adoption is not without obstacles. Many adults who would like to adopt, often do not fit the traditional criteria required for an adoption. Those that do, need to attend extensive parenting workshops and adoption training at local adoption agencies to even qualify. Sibling group adoptions are more rare, but not uncommon. Families that are willing to attempt such adoptions are a select few and often face even larger obstacles in their path.

History
The turning point in the lives of the nine siblings began back in 1997 when the body of a young boy was discovered floating in a river in southern Indiana. The Indiana State Police determined that he had been lying in Indiana’s White River for over a week before being found. Spurred by the boy’s disappearance a week earlier, an investigation was done into Kyle’s rural home. The local authorities discovered eight other siblings, all brothers and sisters, malnourished and suffering from neglect and abuse at the hands of their stepfather and birth mother. The children (Stephanie 13, Christopher 10, Ashley 9, Bob 7, Samantha 5, Scotty 3, Michael 2, Kristina 1, and Kimberly who was born later) were divided into two groups and placed into separate foster homes until an appropriate family could be found.

My name is Thomas Charles Gaunt. Currently a filmmaker in Chicago and director of A Place Called Home: An Adoption story. I am one of Tom and Jean’s four birth children. We grew up on a farm in northern Indiana in the mid-1970s. My father, Tom Gaunt, is a kind and practical man who loves children and relishes being a father. To support our family, he began working as a tool and dye mold-maker in the late 1970s. My mother, Jean Gaunt, is a compassionate woman driven by her love for children and a desire to see families succeed. At the age of twelve, she witnessed her father, who was adopted, die of cancer and five years later a brother head off to the war in Vietnam. Before discovering he had cancer, her father and mother where considering adopting a child into their family. When I was just two years old, her mother also died of cancer and she was left with a parental void in her own life. Despite these tragedies, Mom always felt that she had a full-filling and healthy childhood.

Seeing how much her father had benefited from being adopted, Mom felt that she could make a difference for children in the same way. However, she would go one step further. She and my father decided to become foster parents. In the following years, they opened our home to abused, special needs and disabled children who were in need of a safe and nurturing environment.

My birth siblings and I were excited to have new brothers and sisters, if even for only short stretches of time. As a child, there were times when the novelty wore off and it became a difficult task to share our parents with our foster siblings. It was a sacrifice that my parents were willing to make. After years of parenting classes, they became aware of the risks of exposing their own birth children to those that had their lives uprooted and their parental trust destroyed. Knowing these risks as they did, they also knew the rewards were potentially life-transforming. From their perspective, helping agencies reunite a child with their birth parents or find an accepting and loving family made it all worthwhile. Most of all, it gave my mother peace of mind.

After 9 years parenting dozens of foster children in northern Indiana, my parents moved our family to Indianapolis. It was there that my mother raised the stakes of foster parenting and became an outspoken advocate for children. Despite her early success, my mother’s burgeoning advocacy would ultimately lead to the end of our family’s foster parenting in the early 1990’s.

My siblings and I are all grown up now and most of us have families of our own. Inspired by a 1999 Mother’s Day newspaper article, they informed us that they were planning to adopt the nine siblings. Initially, we were all stunned. At the age of 49 would this even be possible? Some of us were worried that Mom and Dad might be assuming too much parental responsibility at that age. Also, a turbulent end to their foster parenting in the early 1990’s, gave rise to my doubts in the plausibility of any such adoption being possible?

A Place Called Home: An Adoption Story takes viewers on Tom and Jean’s tense and emotional journey as they role the dice and attempt an unusual adoption despite an unresolved past that could prevent it. Despite the obstacles ahead, my parents believe that the most difficult part of this process will be establishing a sense of permanency for the nine children and helping them to overcome an abusive past. If my parents are successful in doing that, it will make their entire struggle worthwhile...  Read more