It's sometimes a bit frustrating having to write up little mini-episodes of "A Day In The Life Of A Foster Mum".Why, because life - especially fostering life - doesn't happen in neatly boxed-up vignettes, with a beginning, a middle and a neat ending.I try to make my experiences bite-size because you're busy, I'm busy…who wants War and Peace?The door keys saga from my last post is a case in point....
Saturday, June 29, 2024
Sunday, June 23, 2024
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
Getting close to your foster child is hard graft. Earning trust isn't easy, and frankly, it happens few and far between, although you get flashes.So; Terry (aka "Tezza", "T" and "T Man") reached an age where he could go into town by himself. He then reached an age where he didn't want to say what time he'd be back. So we talked to Blue Sky and it was agreed. Terry could have his own keys....
Monday, June 17, 2024
HOW DO FOSTER PARENTS GET AWAY FROM IT ALL?
We've just returned from a mini-holiday, all of us.Five days in a converted barn in lovely countryside about an hour-and-a-half's drive. A just-about-tolerable distance for a convoy of…thirteen people.Yep, when I say "all of us," I mean our entire extended family. Half of the troupe are blood relatives, the remainder are family through fostering.Three generations too; healthy.Two members...
Friday, June 14, 2024
FOSTERING AND THE CAR
So, currently we have three foster children, my maximum due to bedroom availability. Looking after a brood of other people's children has it's ups and downs, but the kids seem to like it. Strength in numbers.They swap their stories with each other of their journey into care. It bonds them. They do it by themselves, no coaching needed. Is there an element of "My woes are worse than yours"?...
Monday, June 10, 2024
THE MYSTERIES OF "MATE"
A new foster child takes all your focus. You have to consciously remember to look after all the other people in your life, not to mention yourself.Our new child, Alicia, is pretty undemanding. Quiet, no wobblies, maybe a bit scatty with apple cores and crisp packets. Normal teen stuff really.But every foster child brings their foster parents some new things to get our head's around. In Alicia's...
Monday, June 03, 2024
FINDING THE MOMENT TO TALK
Our latest foster arrival, Alicia has been with us about three weeks.She's a charming teen, if a bit disorganised. Understandably so, what with the chaos going on in her life.I woke up at just after 3.15am and didn't know why. I lay there for a bit before hearing the faintest of voices from downstairs.I slid out of bed, wrapped myself in my DG and crept down.Alicia was watching Netflix.In my...