Why Foster Care?

Foster Care can be a scary thing. For those that work in it, for the children that are placed in it and even those that choose to say yes to it. But it can also be a beautiful gift.

But why did I choose to foster? I wish it was a simple answer but it isn't...maybe it was my own past-my 3 months (I was a newborn) in foster care before I was eventually adopted...maybe it was my strong desire to be a mother...maybe it was the encouragement I received from friends and family...honestly I am not sure if I could pin point it to one good solid reason. But each of those, and many more play a role in why I decided to become a Foster Parent.

When I first started contemplating it I didn't tell anyone. I had been thinking about it for a while but I figured everyone would think I was crazy and no one would support me. But one day a friend was over for dinner and we were just visiting and talking and somehow it came up in conversation. She encouraged me to look into it and said "I think you would be awesome at that." This encouragement meant the world to me. Someone supported me...so I applied that week. That was in February.

Fast forward to April. I had started my background checks (having lived in so many places over the past 5 years this could take a while), been in contact with Health and Welfare in Idaho and started the process...but I found myself going home for my Grandpa's funeral. I knew in my heart I needed to tell my parents that I was going through this but I didn't know how. I didn't know how they would react and I was terrified. I remember telling my Mom on the way home from church one day. I told her I know that this will come with a lot of questions but I wanted to tell her face to face. She asked me if I was going to tell my Dad...he was the hard one. I don't know why. But I was scared. So I waited until the last day.

We were driving to the airport, my Dad driving, Mom in the passenger seat and me in the back. It had been an emotional day already so we were all pretty quiet. Taking a deep breath I finally spoke up. He asked his questions all with tears in his eyes. He said many things that I will never forget, but he said he was proud of me and he thought it was awesome.

Coming back to Idaho I felt like I could do it. I had the support of my parents (1000 miles away), I had become amazing friends with a community of mom's at our parish, the college students who knew were in love with the idea of a kid that they could help babysit and love on....I had no reason not to do it.

Summer went by...I went through classes getting trained and licensed. These were so hard for me. While my adoption may have happened 28 years ago, I have never been asked to reflect on it so much. This was an amazing process of healing for me and I knew that going through my own healing would help me so much in fostering.

It has now been just over 3 weeks since I got the call for my first foster kiddo, let's call him "Little Man." The call came on a Wednesday morning. I go in later on Wednesdays. I had gone to Mom's group that morning and was meeting with someone when the call came. I didn't answer at first because I didn't know the number. But leaving the meeting I knew what the call was for...my heart stopped. Here we go. I call my office and tell them what is going on and that I maybe later than planned because I have to get somethings with CPS figured out.

After a few phone calls back and forth I am finally on the phone with Little Man's Case Worker. She wants to know if I would be willing to take him. They fill me in on his history and let me ask questions...my only question "Can I take 10 minutes to pray and think about this and call you back?" The case worker and her supervisor chuckled and said "Of course you can." Fostering was no longer just a possibility, it was becoming real. I took a while to call them back...I prayed and talked to some friends. Going through the pros and cons about saying yes and no. But in my heart I knew...I had to say yes.

Its official. I hang up and in less than 48 hours I will have a foster son. I call my best friend and ask her if she will go to Walmart with me that night because I realized I have no food in the house for a 3 year old....

Little Man has now been with me for a little over 3 weeks and what a crazy 3 weeks it has been. We have had many ups and downs. I often refer to it as a roller coaster. But he is settling in well I think and I am getting used to being a single parent for Little Man.

I will post more about Little Man being with me soon! Please pray for Little Man and I that the continued transition will be smooth and good and that he will know that he is loved.