I'm fresh from a Blue Sky support meeting, where foster carers show up for a chat about how things are going.Whether the frequest get-togethers are face-to-face or virtual is neither here nor there, it's brilliant to get a peek into other carers worlds. Every foster child is unique.Come to that, every foster parent is unique too.You get stay-at-home mums whose children have left home, ex-squaddies,...
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
Friday, January 24, 2025
IN FOSTERING IT'S ALWAYS "ONWARDS AND UPWARDS"
I've been fostering a transitioning child for several months now, she's becoming female having been identified at birth as male.Her new name is Alicia.Alicia has a couple of friends at her school who are on the same journey as her, and they spend time together. She tells me she and her friends are also included in other friendship groups, and that none of the pupils give them any trouble.Kids...
Sunday, January 19, 2025
"DO YOU GET A SAY IN THE CHILDREN YOU GET?"
A neighbour and I got chatting in the street a couple of days ago.She lives several doors down from me, I've said "Good morning" to her for years, without getting to know her, so it came as a surprise to her as we chatted for her to discover that I fostered.It reminded me how seldom I raise the subject in conversation.I noticed her mind working. Sometimes people change the subject...
Thursday, January 09, 2025
MUM, D'YOU WANT A PARACETAMOL?
Children coming into care have often had to teach themselves self-preservation.I'll tell you about a dear, sad child we looked after, in a moment.They often have had to learn to get by without enough love, support and care. Sometimes without even adequate food and drink.We once took in a child who, aged five, had been left alone in the house all day with only a dog for company. The child had...