Foster Parenthood: Loving the World, One Child at a Time

Foster parenting is a challenging, yet rewarding experience. I have only been a foster parent for a little over 10 months now. I have a 6 year old girl and a 5 year old boy. We have had some hard times, but we're finally getting through them and they are being such good kids. Their birth mother just came back into their lives, but at this point, they will remain in our home. I don't think the situation would have been so hard, but when I married my husband, the children came along with him. We've not been able to have a normal marriage becaues of having the kids in our home, but at least we know the kids are being taken care of and not just thrown around.

I have always been crazy over kids. I love them, and think they are amazing little creatures. When they are little, they depend on you for everything, and even when they start to grow and get a little older they still need you, but can do some stuff on their own. My foster children are getting to the age where we are having to let go a little bit and let them do things for themselves and on their own. Our girl just started first grade and our boy just started kindergarten. I took them to school on their first day, and I am so glad I got to be there for it. I had some trouble getting my boy to let me go because he was scared, but I had no problem out of my girl. I love to hear them tell their stories about their days when they get home in the afternoon.

Children require so many things but if you love kids enough, you have no trouble at all providing for them. You have to give foster children the same things your own biological children require, but they need a little extra love and attention. Many foster kids come out of broken or dangerous homes, living with negligence or maybe even being abused. My kids come from a broken home and they were being neglected. Therefore, my husband and I have to give them the assurance that they are living in a safe home and will always be provided with the things they need. We may not be financially able to spoil them with lots of toys, or the very best of clothes, but they know that they will have a warm, safe bed with a roof over their heads, food in their bellies and clothes on their backs.

It is still hard sometimes, knowing that they are not your children and maybe any minute will be taken away. Both of our children are bi-racial and it's hard sometimes to think about what other people are thinking about both the kids and us. In the end, it doesn't matter what everyone else thinks. We are taking two kids in that need love and support and we're doing just that for them. Some foster kids also have behavioral problems which makes things hard; our girl does. We just do the best that we can with her, and show her that we love her and support her. There is counseling available for children but I have found that if it is just as simple as the child throwing tantrums, or lying a lot, as is in our case, you can just show them lots of extra love and support and that will help.

In the end, I think that being a foster parent is very beneficial. I do not have any kids of my own yet, but I am caring for two kids just as if they were mine. Just thinking that you are helping a child who could be living a very different, sad or even dangerous life makes you feel really good at the end of the day. If you have ever considered being a foster or adoptive parent, give it some more research. There are a lot of kids out there just needing a little extra love.