8-year-old was worried if her foster parents were about to 'cancel' her adoption again. She had no idea her favorite teacher secretly hoped they would
Lexi was instantly drawn because of the little girl's personality
They say you don't get to choose your family, but in some cases, found-family bonds are the strongest. Back in 2021, 24-year-old second-grade teacher Lexi McClelland, from Bentonville, Arkansas, met 8-year-old Mary, who hopped into her classroom, full of joy, singing to herself. In 2026, they welcomed home their own baby boy, but it only elevated what they went through with Mary years ago. McClelland was instantly drawn, but found out Mary had moved through six foster homes over the last few years. After another failed adoption, Lexi and her husband, Max McClelland, decided to adopt Mary, as reported by TODAY. The little girl who had been disappointed in the past asked her potential foster parents if anyone could stop them from adopting her, but their response allayed her fears.
Invisible string
Lexi and Mary's meeting was more than a coincidence; "It felt like God led it. Like she was meant to be in my life," she told the outlet. The reason Lexi felt a pull towards Mary was not because of her history but her personality. She described Mary as a funny and extremely creative individual. Not only was she a bookworm, but she was also smart and innovative in class. Even though Lexi was not supposed to have favorites, she quickly became fond of Mary.
During the summer of 2021, Mary was supposed to be adopted by another family. It broke Lexi's heart to be apart from this little girl she had come to love. She told the outlet, "I had this picture in my mind that I needed her in my life." One day, without meaning to say it out loud, she told the school counselor, "If anything happens, we’re available." This statement shocked her because she had not even discussed it with her husband, Max, at the time.
Forever home
A few months later, Lexi was informed that the adoption was not going to happen. She took her chance, contacted the school counselor, and got the ball rolling. Since she was Mary's teacher, the process was a little faster. By September, Mary arrived at the McClelland home with a caseworker and her things. Everyone was nervous, but the good kind. Lexi described Max's reaction, "All morning he was pacing around saying, 'I hope I’m going to be a good dad.'"
The big question
Despite the nerves, Max and Mary bonded instantly because they shared the same sense of humor. By December, the McClellans were ready to ask Mary the big question. They wrote a note and placed it in a book for her to find, and Mary did not even have to say "yes" because she threw her arms around Lexi and Max when she read it. But since things had not worked out in the past, Mary tentatively asked if anyone could stop the adoption from happening, but the couple assured her that it was their decision.
Adoption numbers in the U.S.
For the last seven years, the number of children getting adopted from foster homes has dwindled drastically. The National Council for Adoption (NCFA) reported that 46,935 children were adopted from foster homes in 2024. There is a 27% decline in adoption from foster care since 2019, but a 3% increase in private domestic adoptions since then. At the end of 2024, 70,418 foster children were waiting to be adopted. Mary had gone through the system for many years, but finally found her forever home with her teacher, and now mom, Lexi McClellan.
It smelled of home
A few months later, after settling in, Mary started referring to Lexi and Max as "mom" and "dad." Lexi mentioned Mary told her she liked the smell of their house, and this one thing stuck with her. "I remember thinking about how many different homes she’d had to get used to," Lexi explained. A year later, the adoption was finalized on April 7, 2022. Mary was given the gavel to tap and close the case herself. In 2026, the McClellans have welcomed a baby boy to their family, and Mary is obsessed with her little brother the same way he is obsessed with her.
You can follow Lexi McClellan (@leximcclelland.mom) on Instagram for more lifestyle and motherhood content.
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