Jasmine’s closest friend was a fawn called Bramble. They were nearly inseparable until Bramble was rehabilitated enough to be released back into the wild.
The phone rings. What do you do when you know what will be asked of you from the other end of the phone line? Will you say yes to a child?
Real mom. Biological mom. Birth mom. Foster mom. Resource mom. Adoptive mom. We put labels on people like me. Over the last eleven years, I have been a mother to eight children, but only three children live in my house with me at the present time. What does it mean to be “mom” temporarily? Or to
So your friend has become a foster mom or maybe you just met a new friend and it turns out she’s a foster mom. You like this woman. You want to be close and be a support. You want to understand what this whole “foster mom” business means. But where to start? How can you be a good friend to a foster mom? Recognize that Foster Moms are mostly just moms. She’s not a saint, she’s not a monster. She’s a mom to kids who need her right now. She isn’t made of different stuff than you, able to turn off...
Dannielle had been fostering kittens for a long time, but she had never seen a tiny kitten like Venus. When the rescuer found Venus, she was small, fragile, and pretty sick. The premature kitten was actually smaller than Dannielle's computer mouse at work. From the very beginning, Venus was a super-loving kitten. Venus started to
Dear new foster momma, Close your eyes for a second, will you? Take a couple deep breaths, and soak in the excitement you’re feeling right now. I wish there was a way to physically bottle those feelings up; to keep them stored in a safe place to be pulled out at any given time. But […]
Dannielle had been fostering kittens for a long time, but she had never seen a tiny kitten like Venus. When the rescuer found Venus, she was small, fragile, and pretty sick. The premature kitten was actually smaller than Dannielle's computer mouse at work. From the very beginning, Venus was a super-loving kitten. Venus started to
When you sew for charity and make handmade goods for Hope In A Suitcase you will give a foster child something special to call their very own.
Foster parenting is not for the faint of heart! The goal in foster care is ALWAYS reunification with birthfamily, if at all possible. And sometimes it isn't easy. Supporting reunification can be difficult, especially given some situations of dysfunctional, unstable families on the brink of collapse. But what if your home is much more stable?
Here are adoptable pets from North State rescues who need good homes. They are featured in the Record Searchlight's Sunday edition in October, 2020.
Dr. Maria Montessori’s groundbreaking ideas from over 100 years ago have *changed* schools *worldwide*. A teacher in a Montessori classroom or a parent aiming
Erica Hurt had the sweetest reaction when one of her foster children asked if he could call her mom.
Omar is an adoptable Cat - Domestic Short Hair Mix searching for a forever family near Gaithersburg, MD. Use Petfinder to find adoptable pets in your area.
Grey is an adoptable Rabbit - Dwarf searching for a forever family near Pittsburgh, PA. Use Petfinder to find adoptable pets in your area.
Here are 15 things you can do while you wait for your foster child. Being a foster parent will be challenging - get prepared with this list.
No matter your age, where you are from, your hobbies, or your background . . . YOU can help others. Join us on our: "Kindness ...
Dannielle had been fostering kittens for a long time, but she had never seen a tiny kitten like Venus. When the rescuer found Venus, she was small, fragile, and pretty sick. The premature kitten was actually smaller than Dannielle's computer mouse at work. From the very beginning, Venus was a super-loving kitten. Venus started to
Time May Not Be Everyone's Friend, But For These People, Everything Seemed To Look Better With The Years
EBONY, ALL-AROUND GREAT LABBY MIX GIRL, will be in RHODE ISLAND for Nov 7/15 ADOPTION EVENT is an adoptable Dog - Black Labrador Retriever Mix searching for a forever family near Sugar Land, TX. Use Petfinder to find adoptable pets in your area.
We knew baby Riley would probably be reunited with his birth family, but that did not stop us from falling in love with him. We...
“The second Michael caught a glimpse of his brother from across the playground, he ran with all his might and jumped into his arms. We…
Some days I want to be a ballerina. Other days a cowgirl. Or motivational speaker. Or astronaut. And then one day I wanted to be a foster mom. It really […]
Somewhere out there is a boy, who sees all of the babies getting adopted, getting a chance to have a forever family, and he’s saying, “What about me?” He deserves a family too.
Jasmine’s closest friend was a fawn called Bramble. They were nearly inseparable until Bramble was rehabilitated enough to be released back into the wild.
It was a Wednesday. We received a call from our foster care agency at 3:30 in the afternoon - a newborn baby girl had been taken into custody by Child Protective Services at the hospital and was in need of placement. "Are you interested?", they asked. Of course we are.
Our culture has a lot of opinions about what defines a good mother. Thankfully, as Christians, we don’t rely on the ever-changing opinions of the world. We find the true characteristics of a good mother
Hi everyone! I’m Ali from Ali Foster Patterns. I feel so honored to be here today. This is my very first guest post!I have always loved sewing and making things. My mom taught me to sew when I was a little girl. In high school I took a class called “clothing construction” and loved […]
The first thing they tell you as you begin your foray into foster care is to surround yourself with a support system because you will need it. I didn’t really understand why I would need a support system until we were 2 weeks into our 1st long term placement and I was in the bathroom […]
Teddy **PRE-ADOPT** is an adoptable Cat - Domestic Long Hair searching for a forever family near Whitehall, PA. Use Petfinder to find adoptable pets in your area.
image by arztsamui Perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of being a foster parent is the moment when your foster child leaves your home. When any foster child leaves your home, no matter the level of attachment, there will be emotions when it is time to say goodbye, for both you and the child. There are indeed several reasons why a foster child might be removed from your home. Whether the reason is reunification, adoption, or the placement into another home, the transition will be a much easier one with a few simple steps by the foster parent. How your foster child is told that he is leaving can be a difficult conversation. You and the caseworker need to decide how best to inform the child. Whoever should be the one to tell your foster child needs to do so in a way that is marked with care, sincerity, kindness, and honesty. If he is excited about returning to his home and his parents, celebrate this with him. Perhaps have a going away party, and celebrate his time with you. If he is concerned and full of anxiety about moving to another foster home, an adoptive one, or even about moving back to his own home speak to him in positive terms, keeping a positive attitude with him. Remind him that he is an important person and that you care for him and want the best for him. Try to find out as much information about the situation as you can. If possible, acquire the phone number of the family he is moving to from your caseworker and call them ahead of time, introducing yourself to them. Allow your foster child to speak with them, getting to know them a little before the move. If permissible, arrange for a visit with the family, along with the caseworker, allowing for all sides the opportunity to meet face to face. Make sure you pack everything he owns, including everything he came with to your home. Include as many group photographs of him with your family as possible. Place some self-addressed stamped envelopes in his suitcase so that he can write to you from his new home. Add some stationary, pencils, and pens, so that he has everything he needs to write to you. Also, include contact information for him, such as your address, phone numbers, and email address. To help him in this time of transition, it is important to reach out and contact him. Call him on the phone and allow him to tell you all about his new home and new family. Write letters to him and send pictures of your family and family events to him from time to time. Remember birthdays and other important events in his life, including holidays and school events and send cards. If you live nearby, let him know when you can attend school functions and extra-curricular activities or programs of his. image by Joe Shablotnik Saying goodbye is never easy for anyone, and may be especially difficult for you and your foster child. With the right preparation, this time of transition can be a little bit easier for all involved. Dr. John DeGarmo has been a foster parent for 11 years, now, and he and his wife have had over 30 children come through their home. He is a speaker and trainer on many topics about the foster care system, and travels around the nation delivering passionate, dynamic, energetic, and informative presentations. Dr. DeGarmo is the author of the highly inspirational and bestselling book Fostering Love: One Foster Parent’s Story, and the upcoming book The Foster Parenting Manual: A Practical Guide to Creating a Loving, Safe and Stable Home. He writes for a number of publications and newsletters, both here in the United States, and overseas. Dr. DeGarmo can be contacted by email, through his Facebook page, or at his website. We welcome your comments. How have you handled goodbyes? What advice would you add to Dr. DeGarmo's?
Your child does not say many words yet? What can you do to boost his language learning?
Morgan, the senior dachshund, ended up in a shelter after his human passed away. The pooch was 18-years-old already, so Senior Paws Sanctuary (SPS) was called and asked to help him. [They] informed us that an elderly, unadoptable dog had arrived, Kate Reidy, Morgan's foster mom, told The Dodo. Morgan went to live with Reidy and her 10-year-old dog, Charlie who assumed that the dog would be a bit slower due to this age - but boy was she wrong!
Levi is an adoptable Dog - Coton de Tulear searching for a forever family near Las Vegas, NV. Use Petfinder to find adoptable pets in your area.
While you’re waiting to open your home or welcome a child into your home, I encourage you to use this time. Use it actively & intentionally, as a time to build your heart & your knowledge & your tool box. Use it to prepare yourself for the kids you’re about to welcome and the
Anya, the founder of Montessori From The Heart, is an educational coach, a blogger, an author, a digital creator, and an influencer.
TITUS in Northern CA is an adoptable Dog - Yorkshire Terrier searching for a forever family near Chapmansboro, TN. Use Petfinder to find adoptable pets in your area.
