From the moment they met him, the journey from foster care to adoption began for Claire and Eric DeLay—a path they hadn’t expected so soon after their September 2021 wedding.
The Oklahoma couple had always shared a dream of creating a forever family through fostering and adoption. Still, they thought it would happen later in life.
Eric, a firefighter with an every-third-day work schedule, and Claire, who managed her own flexible concrete coatings business, had built their lives around helping others.
That same compassion soon guided them toward inspirational parenting in the most unexpected way.
A fall evening that changed everything
Just a month into marriage, the DeLays hosted a pumpkin-painting night at their new home. It was meant to be a simple community gathering filled with laughter and autumn colors.
Among the guests was a 2½-year-old boy nicknamed “Jay,” who came with his foster parents.
“As soon as he got out of the car, he ran straight into my husband’s arms,” Claire, 29, recalls. “And for the rest of the night, he didn’t want to be with anyone else.”
That heartwarming moment marked the beginning of something special. Jay’s biological mother, who also attended the event, connected with the couple that same evening.
A few weeks later, his foster parents asked if Claire and Eric could care for Jay on weekends.
At that time, the couple wasn’t yet licensed to foster. Still, in their Oklahoma community, many families relied on informal care. This arrangement allowed children to stay with trusted adults without the full involvement of state agencies.
The journey from foster care to adoption
What began as weekend visits quickly turned into a deeper bond. By early 2022, both Jay’s foster parents and biological mother shared that he might soon become eligible for adoption.
They asked the DeLays if they would consider giving him a permanent home.
For Claire, it felt like destiny. She had always believed adoption would be part of their family’s story. So when the opportunity came, she and Eric said yes without hesitation.
In May 2022, Jay officially moved in with the DeLays. Just over a year later, in September 2023—while Claire was pregnant with their biological daughter—their dream of building a forever family became reality when the adoption was finalized.
“Our family threw us a big kid shower instead of a baby shower, so everyone could come meet him,” Claire recalls.
She added that when they finalized the adoption, their loved ones gathered again for a big celebration.
She wasn’t sure if her son completely understood what was happening. Still, she could tell he felt happy and deeply celebrated.
The couple gave Jay a new name that honored both his past and his new beginning.
They kept “Jay” from his biological name and renamed him Jaden Teddy, calling him “JT” for short. When they first met, JT struggled to say his name, often pronouncing it like “Chai Tea”—a nickname that still makes them smile.
Inspirational parenting and overcoming challenges
When JT joined the DeLays, he was just over 3 years old and developmentally delayed. He couldn’t speak, color, or identify letters, shapes, or animal sounds.
Claire and Eric immediately focused on helping him catch up, demonstrating the essence of inspirational parenting through their dedication.
They enrolled JT in speech therapy four times a week, working with three different specialists. Little by little, his progress became clear.
Today, JT is thriving at six years old. Claire said he now reads at grade level, talks endlessly, and recently played his first flag football game, where he scored five touchdowns.
She explained that because they see him every day, it’s easy to miss how much he’s grown, but their friends and family are always amazed by his progress.
She also shared how proud they are of all his hard work, describing him as a sweet boy, a loving big brother, and someone they can’t imagine their family without.
How foster care to adoption inspired a larger purpose
As their family grew, Claire began to understand how little people knew about the U.S. foster system.
Many assumed children in foster care came from other countries, not realizing how many local kids still need loving homes. That realization motivated her to share their experience publicly.
Through TikTok, she started documenting their story—from foster care to adoption—to raise awareness and encourage others to consider fostering.
Her videos reached millions, and countless viewers found hope and motivation in their journey.
One of her viral posts with over 900K views described their story in simple words: “Rich, because one month into marriage we randomly met a little boy painting pumpkins in our driveway. That little boy now calls us Mom and Dad.”
Since then, several families have reached out to say they started fostering after seeing her videos.
Others, including foster children and adoptees, have shared their personal experiences, thanking Claire for listening and showing them they’re not alone.
Keeping the door open for children in need
Today, the DeLays continue to open their home to others. Since adopting JT, they’ve welcomed more than 30 children through both licensed fostering and informal care.
Each child, they believe, has been placed with them for a reason.
“As foster parents, we don’t make plans or set expectations,” Claire says. “We’ve learned that kids come into your life when they’re meant to. So we just stay open — ready to love whoever needs us next.”
Their story from foster care to adoption is more than a family milestone—it’s a reminder of how love can grow from the most unexpected moments.
The DeLays’ home has become a symbol of compassion, second chances, and the true meaning of a forever family.
See more of their heartwarming journey from foster care to adoption by watching Claire’s TikTok video capturing their joyful family moments and the love that brought them all together:
@okiemommy Love them forever and ever and ever. #oklahoma #momtok #biomom #adoptivemom ♬ original sound – ︎
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