Audwin loves fried chicken and soccer. The 10-year-old, who has been in foster care in the Richmond area for more than a year, enjoys shopping, but rarely buys, preferring to save his money. Audwin tries living in the moment in order to avoid feeling sad about not having a family. DAVE ELLIS/THE FREE LANCE-STAR Visit the Photo Place

Boy shopping for permanent home

Among the many Virginia foster children, Audwin seeks a permanent home

BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE

Date published: 7/15/2009

By Flowers Umble

BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE

Audwin loves to shop. But usually he just looks.

The 10-year old is pretty thrifty.

"If I had a million dollars, I'd put it in a savings account and wait," he said.

As a foster child, Audwin's already learned some savvy saving secrets. For example, he earns behavior points, which equate to money for clothes and shoes.

But Audwin learned he could get by with just a few outfits and save his clothing money.

The plan hit a small snag, however, when Audwin needed men's sizes.

"Those cost more than kids' sizes," Audwin said.

Still, he bought just four outfits and scored some deals.

Audwin has been in foster care for 1 years in the Richmond area. He said the secret is to just live in the moment.

That way, he doesn't get sad thinking about how much fun having a family would be.

But if he did have a permanent family, Audwin would love "parents who play video games, board games and outside games."

The youngster loves all of the above. He doesn't get to play board games very often because the pieces are missing to the games at his group home.

But he loves Battleship "because it works your brain."

Audwin also loves to be outside: swimming, kayaking, roasting marshmallows, riding bikes and playing go-karts.

And a bonus for prospective parents: He enjoys cleaning up.

Audwin would love to have his own show on the Disney Channel.

And, when he gets older, he wants to be a firefighter.

But, while he rarely lets himself think about it, Audwin would love to have a family most of all.

Amy Flowers Umble: 540/735-1973
Email: aumble@freelancestar.com

Interested in adopting Audwin or any of the other children waiting? Contact Kristy Taylor at Children's Home Society of Virginia at 804/353-0191, ext. 17. On any given day, 1,600 Virginia children seek an adoptive family. The Free Lance-Star joined with the Children's Home Society of Virginia, a private adoption agency offering foster-care services, to spotlight some of these children. First names are used, but no last names are published to protect their identities. The newspaper will periodically feature a Virginia child available for adoption.

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Date published: 7/15/2009

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