Adoption hearing for faculty member made more special by child's kindergarten class attending

As the adoption of their 5-year-old was finalized December 5 in a Kent County courtroom for faculty member David Eaton and his spouse, the gallery contained a special group of supporters.

Kindergarten classmates looked on as Eaton, associate professor of history, and his spouse, Andrea Melvin, formally adopted Michael.

The idea to invite the classmates came from Michael's teacher, Eaton said. In a conversation with Michael about the idea, he was told that often such hearings include only family members. Would he be OK with his class attending?

Michael's response, "In a way, the class is my family."

Eaton said that notion was reinforced when the judge asked each classmate to say something about Michael, and child by child stood up to say how much they liked Michael, many adding that he was their best friend.

"It got me right in the feels," Eaton said.

Indeed, an already emotional day was taking on even more significance as word spread through social media and news outlets about this special hearing, part of Adoption Day for Kent County where a number of families were in court to finalize forever families.

It took just over a year for Eaton and Melvin to reach the point of adopting Michael. They first were his foster parents, having taken him in from an emergency situation. In fact, Eaton was at a conference when the placement happened, so when he returned he met his foster child for the first time.

The couple had been on a list for foster parenting, with an eye toward adoption. A few opportunities that arose didn't pan out beyond the phone call stage, Eaton said. But this placement with Michael, even though it was short notice, quickly gelled. 

"He made it really, really easy for us," Eaton said. "He was very well adjusted and getting along with other people, very gregarious, loved to meet people and play with other kids in the neighborhood."

Eaton said Michael's kindergarten classroom has had a far-reaching positive impact, with engaged teachers and parents happy to set up play dates, helping Michael with everything from behavior to quickly blossoming academic skills. Michael feels at home, which is why the classmates' attendance at the adoption hearing made sense, Eaton said.

While he is grateful for the public outpouring around the hearing, Eaton said he also is eager to settle into a routine family life that includes their dog, Rory, who has quickly learned that following Michael around might yield dropped snacks.

"Foster kids have a lot of instability in their lives, so we want to provide a routine and give them that side of life that is really helpful to them," Eaton said. "Going home, playing in the backyard, that's the type of stuff I'm kind of living for right now."

As for Michael: "I think he's going to thrive."