Written by Jason Peters
Citizen staff
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Tuesday, 16 June 2009 |
Alan and Sandra Huggett pose with Lia, left, and Kimberly in the family’s back yard. Alan and Sandra adopted the girls and traveled to China to bring them home. (Citizen staff photo )
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Huggett has filled the role of stay-at-home dad for both his daughters. They are six-year-old Lia and three-year-old Kimberly, and both became part of the Huggett family through adoption. On two separate trips, Alan and his wife, Sandra, brought the girls home to Prince George from China. Lia entered their lives in 2004 and Kimberly joined the picture in 2007. Both were infants at the time.
"When we came home with Kimberly, I ended up being the stay-at-home dad and, for the better part of a year, took care of both girls," said Alan, who will be in a position of honour on Sunday, Father's Day. "It was a lot of fun, actually. More dads should be the primary caregivers.
"It's a lot of work, and I can see why some guys want to go to work," he added with a chuckle.
Alan is program coordinator at the Camp Trapping youth correction camp and returned to his job a few weeks ago. Sandra, meanwhile, is an early literacy resource teacher with School District 57. So, currently, Lia splits her time between Kindergarten and day care. Kimberly is also a day care kid right now.
Alan and Sandra were married in 2001 and, shortly after that, decided they wanted to be parents. They were both 44 when Lia's adoption was finalized, and the process was a long one.
"We had to be interviewed by a social worker, we had to have a criminal records check, we had to take part in the B.C. Adoptions course," Alan said. "I believe it was about a six-month process, being interviewed and all that kind of stuff and being approved by the province. And then the feds have their say in it, with regards to the immigration. So you have to fill in immigration papers and then you send the application off and wait. With Lia, we were waiting nine months. Kimberly, it was 14 to 16 months. And now it's up to at least four years, if not longer, to adopt from China."
Alan and Sandra chose to adopt from China for a specific reason.
"China actually has a good reputation of having fairly healthy children and a good reputation in their international adoption program," Alan said.
Lia and Kimberly are not related by blood. But, coincidentally, their birthdays both fall on Feb. 27. The girls are from completely different parts of China and were in orphanages prior to being adopted.
Lia and Kimberly have settled into their new lives perfectly. As for Alan and Sandra, they couldn't be happier.
"They fill our lives with joy and wonder," Sandra said. "It was our way to have a family, so we get to have all of that together."
Added Alan: "I love spending time with the girls, watching them grow up and just doing things with them -- taking them swimming, cycling, and playing with them. It's very rewarding."
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 16 June 2009 )
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