Single dad adopts 2 siblings after fostering 36 kids over seven years: 'I can be their forever home'

Peter Mutabazi has opened his home and heart to children in foster care for years. Back in 2019, he adopted his now 17-year-old son Anthony Mutabazi and now he is welcoming two more members to his family: siblings 8-year-old Isabella Mutabazi and 7-year-old Luke Mutabazi.

Having had a difficult childhood, Mutabazi has dedicated his life to helping children in vulnerable situations. The 49-year-old shares his history of being a foster dad on Instagram (@fosterdadflipper) to remind people that love has no labels and that every family can look different. As a single Black dad who has fostered 36 kids, he hopes more dads will be involved in taking care of their families and he also wants to show people that not every family has to have the same skin color.

Sharing the story of adopting Isabella and Luke, the dad-of-three wrote in a recent Instagram post, "Just over 3 years ago, I had a call asking if I could take in a pair of siblings. As usual, I knew little about them and with space in my home and my heart, I of course took them in." He explained that the aim of fostering is to hopefully reunite the children with their biological parents, but if that doesn't happen "then kinship adoption is the next option. This means someone biologically related to them would come forward and adopt them. But sadly for the children, no one came forward."

Fostering the two siblings for the past three years involved so many memories for Mutabazi and the kids as they spent time enjoying "games nights, trips to eat ice cream, road trips to see Zay, aquariums, theme parks... the list goes on," he shared. When he learned that he was able to adopt Isabella and Luke, he said he was absolutely "thrilled."

"Adoption is not only about celebrating that the children can now have a sense of belonging - knowing they can stay in the home they know and the life they know; but is also about grieving the loss of their hope to return to their biological parents," he wrote. 

"I have promised to seek a relationship with their biological parents, which will be new territory to navigate. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers for the best outcome for everyone." He concluded by saying, "For now, we can celebrate together! Please welcome our two new Mutabazis to the family - Isabella Mutabazi and Luke Mutabazi."

The proud dad beamed over the new addition to his family, describing Luke as "kind and sweet" to PEOPLE, adding that he "wants to be a foster parent like his dad"—while Isabella is the "boss of the house." The adoption process isn't easy and can have a lot of complicated issues and emotions. "I'm a Black guy, they are white kids," he explained. "They're looking for a family member. But that never happened. No one took them in, no one claimed them."

Earlier this year, in April, the parental rights of the kids' biological parents were terminated. "That's when I knew that now, I can finally be their dad," Mutabazi said. Since he is passionate about reuniting foster children with their biological parents, the situation broke his heart and was bittersweet. "I cried all day," he admitted. "The kids literally have a parent they dreamt could come back for them. But they've just given up. It's a loss. I felt the loss for them." But at the end of the day, he is grateful to have a bigger family. "It's absolutely a joy," he said of the adoption. "I can be their forever home."