Foster Care is a special calling.
My advice once you get started - Love them like they'll never leave. Treat them as your own. Take lots of pictures.
If they stay you will have always treated them like a vital part of your family. If by chance they leave your home to go to bio-family, they'll know what Love is and how they should be treated. Know that either way, you will have an impact on the children - and that's what Foster Care is all about (at least to the Foster families). These children will always be a part of you and you of them.
We were extremely fortunate to receive wonderful, beautiful children that started out as straight foster - we were priveledged to adopt both of them. We never went through the turmoil of sending one back to bio-family (this would have broken our hearts - but still would have been SO worth it). We do, however, have contact (via pictures/letters) with their bio-mothers.
The Lord couldn't have picked children who were more perfect for our family. Our daughter is just like our bio-son (who takes after me) and our younger son is just like Daddy. After reading their files, either or both could have easily been brought into care before we were licensed and we would never have known them - I swear it is a GOD thing that brought them to our home.
I know there are lots of negative stories about Foster Care, Case Workers, CPS, Agencies, etc - we had a very positive experience, so have no negative stories to tell.
The Lord brought our children into our home, we chose to keep them. We feel very Blessed.
Follow your heart.
Susan
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Susan
PCOS dx 1996
Hypothyroid dx 2001
HELLP dx 2000, told me 2003
MTHFR dx 2004
4 early angels (12/97, 09/98, 02/99, 07/09)
BS-B-05/00 (9 wks early - pictured at 2 days)-HELLP (4th gr)
BD-S-04/03 (16 wks early)-HELLP-with us for one hour
BS-M-01/05 (22 wks early)-PPROM, possible IC-born still
AD-K-05/05 - placed 05/07, adopted 09/08
AS-B-06/06 - placed 04/07, adopted 06/08
Armour Thyroid 120 mg
Procardia XL 60mg
Glucophage 1500mg
Baby aspirin |