Looking for Feedback for Foster Care.

[debknechtel]

My hubby and I went through all the courses to do foster care a few years back but then had 2 more children. We were not able to participate at the time. We are thinking of possibly taking in 1 or 2 children now that our kids are all in school. Does anyone have any great stories to share or disappointments before we make our final decision? Thanks!

[lablum]

I personally don't have any experience but do know of some people who do. My previous sitter's mother does foster care (her own children are grown and out). She is in her lat 60's now and has had the privelage of adopting 4 siblings from foster care. She raised them from babies (the oldest is now around 15 and the youngest around 8) and the system was going to separate them to get them adopted but she wouldn't have it so she adopted all 4 of them. She still does it now and gets phone calls in the middle of the night to take a child. You have to have a strong heart if you have to give the child up and you have grown attached. She always has extra clothes on hand in all sizes, has lots of toys, and lots of love.. I always wanted to do it but I work full-time and don't know if I could deal with getting a child, getting attached, and then having to say goodbye. Whatever you decide, good luck and please let me know how you make out..
There are too many children in this world and not enough caring parents to go around..

[Sammi1961]

Hi. I was a foster parent for years and even did extra training to become a crisis foster care parent. My advice is, only take children your own children's ages or younger. This advice was given to me by another experienced foster parent back when I first started. The reason is because that is the amount of parenting experience you will have. I know when my children were young I would have had a hard time being a parent to a foster child in their teens as I had never parented a teen. Other than that, foster parenting can be a wonderful experience. A lot also revolves around whether you get a good social worker or not. If you get a good social worker, the experience is much easier than if you have a social worker who is not so good. I gave up my license a few years ago when I decided to go back to school. (I now have a BS degree in child & family studies) but plan to go back to foster parenting in a few years when my children are in college. It is definitely worth it!

[elrey]

I have never done it. But a friend of mine told me that years ago she did forster care. She and her family were given a foster child as an infant and after having this baby for a year the parents wanted the baby back. Needless to say this ripped all of their hearts out and they never fostered again. I always thought I might want to do fostering but not after her story. I dont want to set myself up like that. It takes very very very special people to do foster care and adoption. I admire you.

[debknechtel]

Thanks so much for your input everyone....We are still on the fence...as I am unsure if I could let a child go after having them for a long period of time. We have also looked at relief care....where we would give relief to other foster parents who needed a break for different reasons. Anouther area that there is much needed help is teenage moms with their babies. You take them into your home and help the young mom learn how to take care of her little one.

Hugs Debbie

[elrey]

Debbie, You and yours should be commended for wanting to help in such a special way. Have you tried praying over this matter.?

[debknechtel]

Yes prayer is a very big part of my life and I know in time that the lord will steer us in the right direction. I just want to make sure that the decision is the right one for us......I don't want to make committment and not be able to see it through.....no child deserves to have that happen to them especially children in these situations!!

Hugs
Debbie

[elrey]

Originally posted by debknechtel
Yes prayer is a very big part of my life and I know in time that the lord will steer us in the right direction. I just want to make sure that the decision is the right one for us......I don't want to make committment and not be able to see it through.....no child deserves to have that happen to them especially children in these situations!!

Hugs
Debbie

Debbie , you sound way too responsible and caring to make any rash decisions. You go girl. Sure wish there were more people in this world like you.

[debknechtel]

Thanks elrey for the compliment .....you've made me cry!!! I'm really no different than anybody else!!!!

hugs Debbie

[elrey]

But yes you are Debbie. You want to take care of the less fortunate ( well, okay a lot of us want to do that) but you are willing to really do it. Not just talk about it. Come on, you even went so far as to get our inputs on the subject.