LET THEM GO...

Bombshell. You get them in fostering, boring it isn't. Our newest arrival..the one I've called 'Romeo' on the blog? The one whose mum had to decide between him or her latest bloke since her latest bloke was considered a risk? The one whose mum went and chose the bloke? That child. That poor discarded little mite. He's found his groove with us, got a bit of traction on life. He fits in, enjoys...

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FOSTERING AND FLYING THE NEST

We had an interesting one this weekend. One of ours has started going into town and leaving his mobile phone switched off, which means we can't track him. What did parents do before Apps like Find My Phone and Find Friends? We used to sit at home twiddling our thumbs worrying our socks off about where they were and who they were with and what they were doing. Then, suddenly, you get them a mobile...

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LEAST SAID SOONEST MENDED

That song that goes; "Words, 'cos words are all I have.." It's not true.  I've come more and more in fostering to use silences. Not say anything. It's not easy. All day long you feel you have to say something, but if someone wrote the things down it'd sound like a litany of negativeness: "Don't walk in here in your shoes." "Take your bag upstairs don't just leave it there." "Leave your...

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NEW PLACEMENT; LOOKING FORWARD - AND BACK

Our new placement isn’t really ‘new’ any wore. Blimey, where’s the year gone? We find it’s really helpful to look back and try to identify the progress that’s been made. Progress almost always happens but if you’re not careful it’s easy to simply foster in the here and now. Here and now is good of course; it means you’re in touch with the moment and children live in the moment. You have to...

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EATING PROBLEMS

I can't remember exactly when our eating habits at home changed but it's got something to do with fostering. Way back, like most young families, you could knock up a meal and everyone would eat it. Portions would vary according to age, and sometimes someone would have to have beans instead of tomatoes. Tomatoes, if I remember correctly, were about the only really upsetting item for young ones. I...

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FOSTERING WHEN THEY ARE UNWELL

I've got one off school and at home all day at the moment, not very well. I LOVE it when they are off sick for a couple of days. Obviously I'm only talking about a cold or a sore throat or something, touch wood I've never had a foster child with anything more serious. I love it because it's a fantastic opportunity to get to know them better, and vice versa. They can't rush out and play, can't spend...

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