When the dinner bell sounds, Aiden would like nothing more than to tuck a napkin under his chin and dig into a thick and juicy steak. His favorite food seems to fit Aiden well because he’s a hardy young soul who’ll tackle any chore. Aiden takes pride in “being able to listen to people,” which should serve him well as he follows his desired career path by becoming a game warden. Another great trait should help Aiden, too. “I have empathy for other people,” he says. Aiden likes being active and engaged. He loves building things with Legos and says “building stuff” is his favorite after-school activity. Aiden also takes an interest in baseball, football and robotics. On the weekends, Aiden says he enjoys sleeping and “hanging out with my friends.” This genial young man admits that “I laugh easily.” Sharing laughs with a forever family is one of the things Aiden looks forward to most. He envisions them going to the park and to the movies together. Aiden also hopes they’ll go camping and on vacations.

“I’m understanding, I’m smart and I’m always smiling,” says Aiden, whose adult acquaintances share similar kind words about him. “Aiden is a very bright, outgoing teen. He is very easy to talk to and very easy to establish rapport with. Although he is young, I have seen Aiden handle challenging situations with emotional maturity. He stands up for those he cares about even when doing so is hard.”

Aiden would do well in a forever family who’s as caring and understanding as he is. His new parent or parents should be patient and experienced as well as trauma informed. They must be strong advocates for the services that will help Aiden thrive. In addition, Aiden needs a family who will be open to letting him explore who he is and support him no matter what.