It’s a common tale in foster parenting- A couple gets excited, joins the ranks of foster parenting, begins taking placements, and just a month in they’re completely overwhelmed or defeated! How can a person enter this journey better prepared? This is the topic of today’s podcast!
We figured out just months into our time as foster parents, that we were in over our head. But it really didn’t need to be this way. If only there were some folks willing to give us the inside scoop on what we could expect from this journey. Instead, we took the foster parent classes, signed our name on the dotted line, and took in our first placement, a sibling group.
They were amazing children. In fact, they never left our care. Just 4 years later we finalized their adoption. We couldn’t have been more excited. We also couldn’t have been more exhausted. We needed help. We needed insight. This journey had taught us a lot, and we determined that we would make it our goal, moving forward, to equip as many people as possible for the journey ahead.
Today, we are discussing 7 big realities that everyone, who is just starting out the journey particularly, needs to know about foster parenting. We hope that you find encouragement and strength through today’s show…
Listen To The Podcast.
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Notes and Quotes from the Show.
Here are the 7 points we make throughout the show….
- You will become attached to the child.
- You’ll seldom receive accurate or timely information.
- You will be exhausted.
- You will learn about special needs you never knew existed.
- You will discover how great the need is.
- You’ll be tempted to spill.
- This is not the place to find “your child.”
One of the big things we talked about in the show was the need for consistency and to keep going even when you want to quit. We know how tough the journey is and how defeating it can be. The fact is, you’re not alone. Oftentimes people quit right before they have a major breakthrough.
[shareable]You have no idea what’s just around the corner. Don’t give up![/shareable]
Resources and Links.
Two of our absolutely favorite resources to talk about when it comes to foster care and adoption are The Children’s Bureau of Indianapolis and The Refresh Conference. We know that many of you are out of the Indianapolis area so we recommend connecting with the bureau and finding out where you can find help in your specific area, or doing a simple Google search for foster care and adoption agencies in your specific area.
We are so excited for The Refresh Conference to arrive in just a little over a month. If you are just beginning the foster parenting journey, or you are currently serving as a care-giver, this conference is a must! Don’t miss it…
Thanks so much for tuning in. We hoped you enjoyed the show today. Feel free to share with friends or colleagues who need some encouragement.
[reminder]What’s one or two things you would add to the realities we shared?[/reminder]
