I recently spoke with Eriq Partin, who is licensed with Methodist Home for Children, about how he has kept his siblings together as a kinship caregiver. He was open and honest in a way that shows just how much of a challenge every day as a kinship caregiver could be. Yet, by the end of our conversation, I truly impressed by everything Eriq and his siblings have accomplished.
Eriq is 35, single, and is a bus driver. He began school in October 2023 and is working towards owning his own funeral home, a business he wants to be able to pass on to his siblings. After all, there are five of them that Eriq cares for, all under the age of 12. At one point during our call he had to pause a few times to make sure his siblings were using the right kind of milk with their cereal. Even through the phone, I could tell he had eyes in the back of his head. Eriq grew up in a military family and lived all up and down the east coast. Unfortunately, like in many families, substance mis- use became an issue with his parents. He had already adopted his four year old sister several years ago, so he had experience caring for his siblings. While caring for his sister, he still remembers the day he was called about his other four siblings. He recalls his phone ringing from an unfamiliar number several times before he picked it up. It was the Division of Social Services. Eriq’s four other siblings were coming into care.
His first thought? “Heck no,” he told me. But that no quickly turned into a yes because Eriq knew he had to keep his siblings together and with family. He knew his life was about to change forever. He didn’t feel prepared and knew providing care for his siblings would be a challenge. It had already complicated and damaged some family relation- ships as some of his family resented him for “taking the kids.” Eriq is in the process of adopting all of his siblings and is looking forward to the finalization so he can ask more people to assist him with one of his biggest challenges, childcare. Respite and childcare was a theme Eriq brought up many times. He shared that caring for all of his siblings by himself has been taxing on his mental health, and any help or support is appreciated.
Even with all of the challenges, Eriq knows his top priority is to keep his siblings together and with family. “They’ve always been together. It’s what they know. They are a security blanket for one another. They love each other and they’re all really close.”
Eriq and his siblings get through by staying busy. He has them involved in sports and activities and has many hopes for them. “I want them to feel loved and contribute to society. I want them to be whatever they want to be.” I wrapped up our conversation asking Eriq what he’s doing for himself and if he has any advice for anyone considering kinship care. Eriq told me he’s making more time for himself and is excited about going back to school. He also proudly told me he has recently started going to therapy, a place where he can process all the changes he has been through. His final words for readers were: “It’s really hard work so you need to really think about it before you say yes. Yet, I can still say it’s all been a blessing.”
