Why I Chose to be a Foster Parent

Becoming a foster parent wasn’t something I jumped into on a whim. In fact, it’s something I did a lot of research on and spent months thinking about. I’d say it was a journey that began in my childhood.

My father was orphaned as a small child and sent to live in an orphanage with his brothers and sisters. This was many years ago before all of the laws and regulations regarding minor children. He was separated from his siblings as they were sent to live in different homes. Only his youngest brother, who was two years old at the time, was adopted. Back in those days, children were hired out to farms and families to work for them in exchange for room and board. Today, we would shudder at such a notion but it was considered normal back in my father’s time.

I remember hearing the sadness in my father’s voice when he spoke of not remembering his mother and never having a home. The places he lived and the families who took him in were never really “home” for him. He was often mistreated or ignored and never loved. I think hearing his stories gave me an awareness and a sensitivity for children who didn’t have parents.

As an adult, I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for children who come from dysfunctional homes. I’ve volunteered to work with kids in my church, in Big Brothers and Big Sisters programs and other opportunities. For me, it’s so easy to love someone else’s child and to see their potential. I always knew that I wanted to adopt a child even if I had children of my own.

Once I realized I would probably never have my own family, I got serious about looking into fostering. I read up on it as much as I could and knew about the difficulties I could encounter. It didn’t deter me and two years ago, I began the process to get licensed. My goal was to give a child the home and security that their parents were unable to give. And in the process, I would have my own unique family.

Today I’m the mother of a beautiful one-year-old daughter who is the light of my life. I’m very thankful to the mother who chose to give her life and then to do what was best for her and give her up. While the path I took wasn’t always easy, I can honestly say I have no regrets. I look forward to the next child I will be blessed with. And to anyone who is considering the same path, I will say that it’s not a choice for everyone but for those who choose to do it; the rewards far outweigh the cost.