Foster Care Support Group

Foster care is a system by which a certified, stand-in parent(s) cares for minor children or young peoples who have been removed from their birth parents or other custodial adults by state authority. Responsibility for the young person is assumed by the relevant governmental authority and a placement with another family found.

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Children's Health & Parenting
/ Foster Care Support Group

Making progress!

AmberKay3
AmberKay3
DH and I finally started foster classes! We have had two so far with seven more to go. We are enjoying class and learning a lot! We finally got our extra bedroom cleaned out and started painting today! We are so excited! I am still concerned about the pain I will feel when a child goes back to their bio parents (if we aren't able to adopt) and having to "share" children and parenting, but still excited to have a child in my home. Watching the videos in the STARS classes give you a new perspective on bio parents. I am torn now. Before all I could think about was getting a baby. But now I have started thinking that in order for me to adopt a baby through foster care, another family has to struggle. I hope this thought will make it easier to give a child back to its bio parents if/when that time comes.
AmberKay3
AmberKay3
DH and I just found out that we are going to be having 2 "foster showers" given by our families to help get the items we would need to care for our foster children. I need some ideas on items to register for for ages 0-2 or 3.
deleted_user
deleted_user
How exciting for you. this is a big step and I wish you well. One item I have bought over and over again is a portable play yard. We have one in the front yard and one in the back and one in the house. Our boys are 21 months and almost growing out of them but they are a good holding place for toys. Kids and adults can fit in one with an extendition. they are called play gates if you look them up. we are starting to dismantle the one in the house but part of it is surrounding my computer/office area. still good to have.
The pain on giving a child back is not so bad if you can get a relationship going with the parents. then you know the kids will be safe. And that is what you set out to do, give the parents some time to make changes, try to rejoice with them.
good luck
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hi Amber! I am so excited to hear about your class progress :) You are going into this with the right outlook as long as you realize you won't be able to keep all the children - just love them while you have them and if you get to keep them, great, but if not, then hopefully it is because someone in their family managed to get their act together and you are able to be supportive. We are going to have to give back our first child to the maternal grandparents. But I don't think it will be as hard as I originally though because we have gotten to know them and they seem like they will take good care of our foster daughter.