Boys. I always heard they were loud, messy, and crazy. I never thought this until all of a sudden, I had three little brothers. It all started from a random statement from my younger sister, Liberty. She said, “Mom, I want a brother.” 

At first, I was bewildered, but then I ended up wanting a brother as well. My mom also agreed but decided she didn’t want to go through labor and birth again. After we convinced my dad, we decided we were going to try to become a foster family. By day, I attended school while my mom gave the social worker a tour of our home and did a lot of paperwork. After a few weeks, we officially became a potential foster family for kids in need. Little did I know how much this experience was going to teach me. 

After a tough day at school, I came home to a huge surprise. We were about to foster three little boys the ages of 4, 1, and 1 month. I was so excited but so nervous. I thought three was a little much, though I wanted a brother so bad. After we got word of this news, everything happened so quickly. All of a sudden, we were receiving things from social services for the boys. I remember them bringing two cribs, a bed, and much more. 

One weekend, our new brothers Caleb, Conner, and William arrived at our doorstep. They were so cute, I loved them instantly! The social worker helped us set up the things they brought and then left. The first couple of days were rough on the boys. Caleb wanted his mom and had trouble sleeping, Conner was confused about what was happening and had a rough time sleeping as well, and William was just a baby. William was crying just because he was a baby, which was understandable. 

Caleb was finally all set up to attend my school as well as me and my sisters. Every once in a while, my grade, at the time (sixth), would visit the younger students and help them do projects or read them some books. At the end of the first week, Caleb came to my school for the first time. 

A couple of days after he started school, my class had to help them color a packet. I could tell Caleb never really colored or drew. He didn’t even know how to use the crayon. At his age, he should have been able to. I realized that life did not treat him well previously. He didn’t know how to color, his teeth were yellow from a lack of brushing them, and I noticed much more throughout our journey as a foster family. 

My mom had been spending every day, all day, with Conner and William. Conner finally started being more vocal with us. Due to his age, it was a regular thing he could only say a few words. Though it wasn’t his first word or anything important like that, I heard him call my mom “mommy.” My mom and I stared at each other in disbelief. We didn’t know what to do in this situation. 

Quite a few days later, Caleb asked if he could call my mom “mom.” This was quite upsetting to hear as I knew the boys couldn't be adopted by us. My mom would never really be his mom because their mom would get them back within a few months. My mom kindly told him, “No, Caleb, you have a mommy. We visit her very soon too. You can call me Shelly, though.” He replied, “But I want you to be my mom.” The minute I heard this, I walked right into my room and cried until I fell asleep that night. 

After at least three months of having my three foster brothers, they returned home to their mom. We went on to have two or three more kids stay at our home over time, but none for more than a week. My mom and the boys’ mom, Sarah, stayed in contact for a while. My mom answered any questions Sarah had and even gave her advice on some things. After a few months of Sarah having her boys back, my mom had sent her some pictures of my sisters and me because Caleb said he missed us a lot. 

A couple of days later, my mom told me what she had done. She said that when Caleb saw my picture, he said, “Aw, that’s Bella, my best friend!” When I first heard this, I kept it together and said it was cute. But the moment I was alone, I broke down. I had thought Caleb was annoying. To a sixth-grader, who had to read him a bedtime story every night, he was. I also once said I preferred Connor or William. Now that I look back, I realize that deep down, I loved Caleb the most. I wasn’t just Caleb’s best friend, he was mine. I never realized it, but I loved Caleb with all of my heart. I would give anything to restart my time with the three boys. The first thing I would do is treat Caleb differently and with more love and kindness. As I said, boys are crazy but not as crazy I was for not appreciating the time I had with them.