“You gave me so much needed hope. You truly helped my sense of self worth and made me want to help myself. You have made such a positive impact in my life. [You] have faith in me and that has meant everything to me and has made all the difference. When I count my blessings I always think of you.”
Sarah, foster child
“We had one foster child who eventually returned to her natural mother, and the two of them showed up on our door one day. The mother had been through parenting classes and turned her life around. She said, ‘Thank you for showing my child the things I didn’t know how to do.’”
Malcolm and Bonnie, foster and adoptive parents
"I have been a single foster parent for 12 years. I started because I wanted to do something more with my life than just work. I thought I would just take care of children as long as I was needed and then they would go home or on to an adoptive placement. My third placement was a baby with special needs and when the worker talked to me about the possibility of adoption I was not sure that I could make that commitment. After several months when the thought of my daughter going anywhere else I knew I had to make that commitment.
"People say they don't know how I do it because they would become too attached. I do become attached I wouldn't be a good foster parent if I didn't. I cry when children leave even if they are going to a good home. Foster parenting isn't always easy. Being a part of a child's life and watching them change whether it be a baby who develops new skills or a child who finally gives you a hug is worth every moment."
Carol, foster parent
"If someone would have told us we'd have two teenage boys in our home on Thanksgiving a year ago, I would have told them they were nuts. My husband and I started our home study only wanting to adopt little children. By the time pre-service classes were over we had decided to give fostering a shot, but only little kids. We had that "fear" of teenager boys in foster care. After all "everyone" knows teenage boys are a handful right? After waiting a while we were asked if we wanted to do respite for a 14 year old boy for 10 days. By the end of the ten days we were sad to see him go, we had gotten to know him and our minds were opened. A few weeks later the agency asked us to respite another teen boy. We said yes of course, why not, we'll give it another try the first time went well. That second boy is with us long term now, and we wouldn't have it any other way. We got our second teen boy a few days before Thanksgiving, and although we know we'll have some bumps in the road, it will be worth it. We tried little kids, and they are nice, but we love our teenage boys. Sure they have issues, so do the little kids, but we get along so well with our older boys. Teen boys in foster care have a negative stigma attached to them, but really they aren't all that bad."
Mary, foster parent
