A family like
no other

For Ruby* and Michael* Smith, family is not just defined by biology. Family is built on unconditional love. With eight children under one roof – each with their own unique story – the Smiths are a family like no other.

After experiencing some initial difficulties and through the help of IVF, Ruby and Michael were blessed with their first child, Charlie*. Three years later, their son Leo* was born. Watching the amazing bond between her boys and Michael made Ruby think about other children who were missing that kind of family connection. Together, Ruby and Michael decided to open their hearts and home to foster care and adoption.

After a year of assessments and preparation, the Smiths adoringly welcomed nine-month-old Hudson* into their family. He bonded immediately with the older boys and within weeks, they couldn’t imagine life without him.

Ruby shares how adoption feels no different from raising her own biological children.

“Lots of people ask if it’s different to loving your biological kids. And I always thought, there’s no way it can be the same. But there’s absolutely no difference.”

The family stayed in touch with Hudson’s birth mother who had more children, including a baby girl named Grace*. Sadly, the birth mother was unable to care for her. The Smiths didn’t hesitate for a second to extend their family. The idea of welcoming Grace felt natural, especially knowing she was Hudson’s biological sister.

But then COVID hit. Weeks turned into months, and Grace was safely placed with temporary foster carers. Eventually things started moving again and after an approval process, Grace was eagerly embraced by the Smith family.

Shortly after Grace moved in – and as fate would have it – Ruby and Michael received a call about a little boy named Ben*, who urgently needed a ten-week foster placement after his previous placement broke down. The decision was easy and felt perfectly timed as the older boys had just gotten bunk beds, so there was now a spare room available.

Ben was a timid five-year-old child with autism. Change was hard for him, but his need for connection was stronger. As soon as he arrived and saw Ruby and Michael, he looked up and whispered, “Hi Mum. Hi Dad.”

That first night around the dinner table, seven-year-old Leo looked at Ben and asked, “How come he can only stay ten weeks? We’re a family – he needs a family. So why can’t we be his?”

They called their caseworker first thing in the morning.

In the midst of Ben permanently settling into their home, Ruby found out she was pregnant again and nine months later they also welcomed their sixth child, baby Theo.

Filled with children and overflowing with love and laughter, their home had become a busy hub. But they always made time to visit their children’s birth families when they could. This included Hudson and Grace’s 16-year-old biological sister, Lily*. At one of their family gatherings, Lily seemed stressed and confided in Ruby and Michael that she was struggling in her current foster placement. When asked to provide her with emergency respite care one weekend, they immediately said yes. That weekend changed everything. Lily bonded quickly with the other children, feeling relaxed, connected, and full of laughter.

At their annual review, the Smiths asked their caseworker if they could be considered a long-term family for Lily. Another urgent assessment followed, and they converted their study into another bedroom. Lily settled in quickly and with two of her biological siblings already part of the family, she felt a sense of belonging from the moment she arrived.

Just when they thought seven children was a full household, they found out they were expecting once again. They were delighted by the birth of their baby girl, Harper*.

Today, the Smith home is a haven overflowing with belonging and stability (and eight children!). Some of the children share DNA, while some share history. But no matter their journey, from the moment they arrived, they became a family.