BY RACHEL MELCER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
ERLANGER, Ky. -- Tammi and Mike Brock woke early Christmas morning, restacked presents and waited for the three little girls who have been in their home since spring.
Dolls and toys and games were promptly delivered into the girls' waiting hands once they awoke and came downstairs to join the family. Like children around the world, they tore off yards of wrapping paper and squealed with delight.
But sisters Darlene, 6, and Christina, 3, along with 3-year-old Ona, had the most smiles and laughs for their foster parents and the Brocks' adopted daughters, Denise, 13, and 10-year-old Ivy. Mrs. Brock said that having the girls in her home at Christmas "has made it more full of love, more full of excitement. It's made it more fun."
Darlene, Christina and Ona, whose names and family history are being withheld for confidentiality, spent their previous Christmas at a group home for children.
This year, they visited with Santa Claus at Mr. Brock's company party and spent Christmas Eve with Mrs. Brock's mother and sister. They were to visit other relatives on Christmas Day.
"My whole family has made them family," Mrs. Brock said.
Ona and Darlene have been with the Brocks since April, and Christina joined them in May. In that time they have bonded with their foster sisters and parents -- but still visit their natural families as well.
"You need to know that, no matter how wonderful your home is, these kids want to go home," Mrs. Brock said. "Knowing not to take it personally, that's real important."
Mrs. Brock recruits and trains foster families for the state Cabinet for Families and Children. She has persuaded two other couples living on her block to take in children. She regrets that the foster care system has a bad reputation, and that many people think all foster kids are juvenile delinquents beyond control or help.
"When you take a child away from everything they know, everything they love -- no matter how bad we may see it -- they're going to have problems," Mrs. Brock said.
"They come with problems, but they're not bad kids," Mr. Brock said.
Denise and Ivy Brock, having been foster children themselves, said they really appreciate what the younger girls are going through. They participated in the family decision to take in the younger children for about a year.
"I didn't want those kids to be without a home. So I thought that we'd give them a family," Denise said.
Mr. Brock took his daughters shopping for special presents to give their foster sisters. They picked out musical dolls and drawing toys.
Eventually, Darlene, Christina and Ona will either return to their families or be adopted into new homes.
The Brocks will be sorry to see them leave, but Mrs. Brock said the girls will take more than presents with them when they go. Ona, who had a limited vocabulary when she arrived, was gabbing away Christmas morning, and spelling out her name so Denise could write it on one of her new toys.
"Sometimes you might not feel like you're making a difference -- and then you see the little ways that you are," Mrs. Brock said. "If you have the time and the patience and you love children, there is nothing on this earth that is more important" than becoming a foster family.
The Brocks' lives have become more hectic, especially during this holiday season. Several times, Mr. Brock stayed home with all five girls -- and two dogs -- while his wife went out shopping.
"That's probably the toughest part for me," he said, explaining that he never knows where to turn first when they all demand attention at once.
But he said the experience has brought his own family closer. Working with the younger girls has given the Brocks new insight on their daughters, who were placed in foster homes before joining their family on Mother's Day 1994.
For every present that was bought and wrapped, and every squabble the girls have had over a particular toy, the Brocks said they have been repaid in the best possible way.
"You can get no reward from any job like you get from this," Mrs. Brock said. "What other job do you have where you get paid in hugs and kisses and smiles?"
