Christmas is hard to get right for for all of us no matter what your situation. It calls for a lot of thought.
Even more thought if you foster.
But a fostering Christmas can be better than any Christmas you've ever had.
For one thing you have extra help; in my case Blue Sky to ring for a chat about how to handle things.
If a foster child is going to be with you over Christmas, Blue Sky go to work...
Friday, October 31, 2014
Saturday, October 25, 2014
FOSTERING V PILATES
Only very rarely do I wonder what life would be like if I'd not taken up fostering.
Once in a blue moon I find myself noticing other people my age doing things that are tricky when you foster.
I sometimes see a lunchtime group of ladies who have just done Pilates and are having a slice of pizza and a glass of Chardonnay before going off to have their hair done. Well actually I could do that...
Monday, October 20, 2014
THINKING ABOUT FOSTERING
A lot of people are 'thinking' about fostering.
I hear it often from family, friends, people at gatherings, from strangers even. People leave comments on the blog.
I once got talking to a woman on the phone who was taking messages for her brother who was doing some work at our house. He'd told her that we fostered and she told me she was thinking about fostering.
They usually want to know if they...
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
WHAT MUST IT BE LIKE, BEING TAKEN INTO FOSTER CARE?
I like Ellen Degeneris, the American comedian/talk show host. I found out the other day she was picked to be Phoebe in Friends but there was a contract problem, so they hired Lisa Kudrow instead, who's brilliant.
I always think of Ellen whenever I hear the phrase "you should put yourself in their shoes", which is something I've tried to do with foster children coming into our house on day one.
When...
Monday, October 13, 2014
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOSTERING MOMENT?
It's important to count your blessings, look on the bright side, stay positive and smile. For everybody, not just people who see other people in distress such as nurses, the police and foster carers.
My social worker likes to start our monthly sessions with the successes. This is round at my house, at the kitchen table, pot of tea on the go. I find I have to think hard; but then the successes...
Thursday, October 09, 2014
WHAT'S THE SUPPORT LIKE IN FOSTERING?
The support that goes out to foster carers is fantastic. I'll be honest, we need a whole lot from time to time and we shouldn't feel shy to ask when we do.
Recently I've been put in touch with a psychologist who has worked with a child we have. Knows the child quite well. Actually, it takes him about half an hour and he knows anybody well.
He came to our house to meet us, and made himself...
Monday, October 06, 2014
WHAT FOSTERING MEANS TO ME
Like everyone, I've jumped headlong into plenty of things in life not really knowing what I was getting into. Life itself for starters. Half of a microscopic thing that was soon to be me jumped headlong into the other half, the cell divided and nine months later I jumped headlong into life outside the nice warm womb.
I jumped headlong into school. Suddenly there was no sight of mum's ankles to watch...
Wednesday, October 01, 2014
SPEAK SOFTLY BUT CARRY A BIG STICK
I've picked up some tricks in fostering. I don't need any at the moment but I was reminded of a couple when I came across the phrase "Speak softly but carry a big stick".
We had a young lady arrive at our house, aged sixteen, nearly seventeen, my goodness she had some stuff. Five large cardboard boxes of various party clothes and soft toys and make-up and hair tools, and enough onesies to kit...