Aunt was given temporary custody of her niece. But 6 months in, she knew she was meant to be her mommy

Sometimes in life, you are gifted with what you never knew you needed, but it turns out to be the biggest blessing ever. Something similar happened with Asherah Henderson, a mom of 3 and an Instagram personality. She posted a video on her Instagram page @ayookalii, sharing the wholesome story of how she accidentally became a mom to her nieces.

Life surprised Henderson when she was given the custody of her youngest niece for only 6 months. She was well aware of her being taken away after the period was over. Due to her being a premature baby, she was acquainted with the health complications that may follow — but she chose to keep her wrapped in her arms. She told Newsweek it was “just a temporary placement until my sister got back on her feet.” Her sister was going through some personal issues and was to regain custody, but due to her continued challenges, Serenity could not be reunited with her birth mom.

Henderson had also previously adopted Serenity’s elder sister from foster care after her mother could not take care of her. "Part of me still hoped, maybe she'd get it together this time," she shared about her sister. "I thought maybe the baby would be her fresh start. That's what babies feel like — a chance to begin again." As time passed, she realized her sister would not return, therefore, she stepped in and took the role of Serenity’s mother. "God had a different plan, not just for Serenity, but for me too," she expressed.

The little girl has turned 5 now and continues to be a source of hope for Henderson. She wrote on her Instagram post: “Over these five years, I’ve watched you grow into the most beautiful, smart, brave, and joyful little girl. You’ve taught me so much about strength, resilience, and unconditional love. You’ve made every hard day worth it, and every good day even brighter.”

The Annie E. Casey Foundation found that around 700 children are removed from their parents every day in the U.S, with Family Preservation Foundation reporting 437,283 children removed from their parents last year in the U.S. It is obvious that these children, once removed, need a place to go beyond temporary foster houses. In such cases, a relative stepping up can be the best thing for these traumatized kids, since it gives them to opportunity to grow up with someone they already know and recognize.

After watching the wholesome video, many viewers lauded her parenting skills. @chanel_accent_over_the_e wrote, “I mean, I know they’re cousins, but she looks just like your girls. It was always meant to be, she’s a perfect fit,” @clubshea_shea shared her personal experience, “Adopted by my auntie… Really, God's plan! I was only supposed to be with her for a summer! She raised me! I’m 37 now — that’s my momma.” @nitaa1829 commented, “The way I love my niece like this. That's my daughter, too, and she calls us both Mom.” Finally, @vividly.flyy expressed, “Aunties are the best. My Aunty has always been in my life, but when I was 12, she adopted me. God knew how much I would need her man.”

You can follow Asherah Henderson (@ayookalii) on Instagram for more parenting content.