Yep... I am a foster parent. We've been doing foster care for the past four years and normally have a total of 8 kids in the house, sometimes more. During the Christmas holidays, we had 11 kids!!
Now I should explain that we have 4 kids of our own at home...
Casey, a biological child (my youngest of 6), plus we have also adopted 3 more children. Sara was 4 when we got her. She will soon be 12. Elijah was 6 months old and is now 7. Aydan is my youngest adopted child and is bi-racial. He was 3 days old when he was placed with us. Because of Garrett's Law, he was placed in foster care immediately upon having a postive blood test for drugs. Apparently his mother was taking drugs during her pregnancy. His mother was given a year to get her act straight and she could've gotten him back. Instead, by the time he was 4 months old, she left the State and gave up her rights. Each of these children are a real blessing to my family. We consider them gifts from God.
As of this past week, we only have 5 children in the house (only one foster child). This is a first for us in the four years that we have done foster care and is at our request, otherwise we'd have a houseful. We needed a break and are taking it. It's easy to get "burned out". Though in Arkansas the limit is 8 kids total in the house, because we live in such a large house and have the space, we are often over-loaded. It puts a strain on the whole family.
Our foster children are "our" kids. We always include them in whatever we are doing and our kids spend a lot of time in the outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping, etc. We're outdoorsey folks. This is good therapy for the children who often come from very traumatic situations.
We have tried fostering older children, but have discovered that the younger children is where our hearts are. Yes... we've cried many times when a child was taken from us. It's so easy to get attached.
The foster child that is with us now has been with us a long time... nearly 4 years!! This is a tradegy in itself. Only recently has she been placed for adoption. She is 6 years old now. Though she has not lived with her two siblings in all that time, they want to adopt them out together, otherwise we would keep her. WE ARE HER PARENTS! She doesn't even remember ever living anywhere else. Our hearts are breaking over this decision. It's a waiting game. In the meantime, she will remain with us until they find her a new mommy and daddy.
Horselover58... adopting can be so rewarding... go for it!
Now I should explain that we have 4 kids of our own at home...
Casey, a biological child (my youngest of 6), plus we have also adopted 3 more children. Sara was 4 when we got her. She will soon be 12. Elijah was 6 months old and is now 7. Aydan is my youngest adopted child and is bi-racial. He was 3 days old when he was placed with us. Because of Garrett's Law, he was placed in foster care immediately upon having a postive blood test for drugs. Apparently his mother was taking drugs during her pregnancy. His mother was given a year to get her act straight and she could've gotten him back. Instead, by the time he was 4 months old, she left the State and gave up her rights. Each of these children are a real blessing to my family. We consider them gifts from God.
As of this past week, we only have 5 children in the house (only one foster child). This is a first for us in the four years that we have done foster care and is at our request, otherwise we'd have a houseful. We needed a break and are taking it. It's easy to get "burned out". Though in Arkansas the limit is 8 kids total in the house, because we live in such a large house and have the space, we are often over-loaded. It puts a strain on the whole family.
Our foster children are "our" kids. We always include them in whatever we are doing and our kids spend a lot of time in the outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping, etc. We're outdoorsey folks. This is good therapy for the children who often come from very traumatic situations.
We have tried fostering older children, but have discovered that the younger children is where our hearts are. Yes... we've cried many times when a child was taken from us. It's so easy to get attached.
The foster child that is with us now has been with us a long time... nearly 4 years!! This is a tradegy in itself. Only recently has she been placed for adoption. She is 6 years old now. Though she has not lived with her two siblings in all that time, they want to adopt them out together, otherwise we would keep her. WE ARE HER PARENTS! She doesn't even remember ever living anywhere else. Our hearts are breaking over this decision. It's a waiting game. In the meantime, she will remain with us until they find her a new mommy and daddy.
Horselover58... adopting can be so rewarding... go for it!
