Single teacher adopts five-year-old student she took in at age 24, friends call “crazy”

Only one teacher has revealed that she adopted her five-year-old student, whom she started welcoming at just 24 – despite her family and friends telling her she was ‘crazy’ about the having welcomed.

Paige Bramlett, now 25, from Indiana, met her son, William, while working as a behavior specialist when he was in kindergarten.

At the time, he was in a foster care system and she said he faced a “never-ending trauma” that left him with PTSD.

After going house to house for over four years, she decided to welcome him into her own home – a decision her close friends found “crazy” due to her age and marital status.

Paige quickly fell in love with William, and after more than a year of living together – on October 1, 2021 – Paige officially adopted him.

She shared her touching story in a moving TikTok video, and it quickly went viral – gaining thousands of views in a matter of days.

“He was my kindergarten student. I was her behavioral expert, ”she began in the sweet clip, which showed her with her son sitting together and reading a book about adoption.

“He was in foster care and struggling with behaviors related to PTSD and trauma. He had been in several houses in four years.

“One day he didn’t show up for school and he never missed a day. I ran into her social worker picking up her things in the hallway.

“She told me they were looking for a forever home he could be placed in. I introduced myself and asked her what to do to become her forever home.

“Now he’s adopted, loved and chosen. My son. We learn together every day.

In another video, the mother-of-one spoke of the scrutiny she faced from her peers after deciding to welcome William, and she admitted that most of them thought that she was “crazy” to have welcomed one of her students.

“Me, single at 24, explaining to everyone that I’m going to start cheering on one of my students,” she wrote in TikTok, as a Taylor Swift song played back- plan.

“Everyone,” she added, while saying the words, “Oh my God, she’s crazy.”

In another video, Paige reminded others that while “fostering is so difficult” it “is worth it” as she shared a bunch of clips of her and William doing various activities. together – like skiing, dancing, roller skating and more.

“The placement with a foster family is worth it. I can’t believe all the memories and so many more to come, ”she captioned.

Many people were moved by Paige’s story and took to the comments section to congratulate her on her “big heart.”

“You have the absolute biggest heart,” one person exclaimed. “And your little guy is the absolute cutest.” “

“You are a really special person,” added another. “He’s so lucky to have you.”

‘You’re not crazy at all. I keep telling my fiancé that if any of my students needed a home, we would, ”wrote a fellow teacher.

Some viewers were even inspired to share their own stories with the adoption, with one writing: “It makes my heart so happy.” I was adopted at 15 by my mom. You gave her a chance to beat the odds and not just be a number.

“I love it,” someone else said. “I am a single adoptive mother of four siblings! It’s not easy, but our children deserve the best.

“I welcomed my daughter at 23. She was 14 at the time. I adopted her two years later, and now she is almost 19. It’s a good thing you did, ”reads another comment.

Now Paige and William are thrilled to be celebrating their first Christmas together as a mother and son, and they recently adopted a puppy, named Banks.