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umar

Age: 15

Umar (pronounced Ooo-mar) is a fast growing ninth grader who likes football, basketball, art, and music. He values loyalty, goodness, and creativity. He already stands 5'6'' tall, but his size eleven-and-a-half-wide shoes may be predicting a football full backer build. He says, "I like football and I would play any spot they want to give me." He thinks he might become a wide receiver, linebacker, defensive lineman, or fullback. He's a good basketball player, light on his feet, and a good shooter.

Umar also takes time to play games, music, or watch cartoons with friends. One of his younger brothers is still placed in the same group facility where he lives with guys older and younger. He gets some teasing sometimes for liking the "baby" cartoons he's watched all his life- Scooby Doo and even Dora the Explorer and Go Diego Go. Umar laughs and says that he doesn't care if he's a kind of big guy watching little kids' TV. Those kinds of shows help him feel happy and relaxed.

In the classroom at his group home Umar gets mostly B's and even some A's. He likes math, reading, science, and social studies class the best. His teacher is creative, having the social studies students learn about a country by sampling its food and customs, especially in the kitchen. He is learning hands-on about Egyptians using a finger bowl to dip and clean up between bites, and Greek table customs as well. He liked trying hummus with spinach recently, but his favorite food is lots of all-American fried or baked chicken. He laughs at the thought.

If Umar were in a family, he'd welcome some great home cooking, but even more important he says he'd like to be loved, nurtured and cared for. He thinks that a two-parent family, a traditional mom-and-dad family, would be best for him. He says he'd like a mom to listen to his problems, with sympathy if he cried or acted sad. He'd like a dad to teach him how to be a man, to build things, watch the Browns, play basketball, or lift weights and work out.

When Umar grows up he imagines himself joining the Navy and learning to become a military police officer. Or, he might practice hard and go into music, becoming the lead singer in a family band. Umar loves Michael Jackson music and dance moves- and a family of brothers getting together to make music together is very appealing. He offers to sing "Man in the Mirror," at a moment's notice. He knows the lyrics, and also enjoys dancing, but doesn't demonstrate the moonwalk. He says he's wearing the wrong shoes. Umar is learning basics of guitar and keyboard, and wants to try to learn drums, in case all his brothers can't play music with him.

Umar is very loyal to his two younger biological brothers. He's not sure if they will eventually be adopted in the same family or in different ones, but his hope is definitely staying in touch. Getting along is easier some days than others, but Umar views family connectedness as a priority.

Umar needs a permanent family structure with support and encouragement. If he had an open minded adoptive family to keep everyone safe but connected, that would help him feel comfortable. Umar says he feels a real closeness to God, and hopes his continuing prayers will be answered. If a good family had a friendly dog, he would have even more to be thankful about. Umar has often experienced more than his share of "ups and downs." Are your family adoption plans something he can really look up to? They could make a real positive change- to last his whole life.