When Tara and Clint Mahannah reflect on their experience fostering and adopting two children through Upbring, it’s all love and gratitude. And it was all made possible by YOU.
In their hometown of Tulia, south of Amarillo, Tara teaches elementary school and Clint works for Ford as a mechanic, along with serving on the local school board. When five-month-old Kenny and 18-month-old Kinsley came into their lives, they were already the parents of five biological children, three of whom were middle and high school students.
Tara’s own mother had been in foster care as a child, which shaped her heart for fostering. But before taking the leap to fostering, Tara and Clint sat down with all five of their biological children to discuss—and they moved forward with a unanimous family decision.
“Clint and I knew this would change our family dynamic,” Tara says. “We were either going to be all in, or not.”
Infant Kenny and toddler Kinsley arrived at the Mahannah home late on a December night in 2022. The family didn’t yet have cribs or gear, so with your generosity, Upbring provided the essentials they needed to welcome two young children into their home.
Tara and Clint remember that first day as “insanity!” They were a couple in their 40s returning to the baby and toddler stage of parenting. At the time, Kinsley wasn’t speaking at all, and Kenny had a treatable muscular condition because of spending most of his first months in a car seat. (Soon and with support, Kinsley started talking. And Kenny’s condition improved with treatment.)
“We had five kids already. We lived a busy life when they came to us, and we hit the ground running,” Tara says. “The day they arrived, our sons had basketball games and they came right along. They were our family right away, and anything we were doing, we wanted them there.”
Two years of fostering and the adoption process felt like an emotional roller coaster. Tara and Clint relied on Upbring’s guidance, encouragement, and practical support as they navigated both the joys and challenges of fostering.
On adoption day in 2024 their entire extended family and many friends all turned out, packing the room to celebrate.
Today Kinsley is five years old and Kenny is four. She’s the more reserved child, while Kenny is “larger than life” with a personality well-known throughout their community.
They stay in touch with the children’s biological mom, sending her photos of the children and reuniting in person twice a year.
Tara and Clint have prioritized “giving back” to Upbring, seeking to support other families who are fostering and adopting. They’ve attended our Christmas events and contributed to the Christmas gift drive. They say they’ll never forget Upbring’s care, from helping with practical needs to the lasting emotional connection. Their sons who are now in high school hope to support our families as a service project for their National Honor Society.
Clint says, “We never felt along. At first we felt like we were doing something for Kinsley and Kenny. But also they were a big blessing to us, as much as we were to them. They changed our lives.”
And with every loving gift you make, you change lives like Kinsley and Kenny’s. Your continued support will help more foster and adoptive families thrive.
