My wife and I are in training to become Foster Parents. We have a good home, live very comfortably and thought we would like to help some kids out that might need a stable home environment for a while.

Has anyone had any experiences as a Foster Parent or Child that you could share? What are the positive and negative aspects that you have experienced?

All feedback appreciated.

Luke.

Admirable of you both. I think you will find it an absoloutly rewarding, life changing event. A friend of mine in Secondry school, his Mum was a foster carer, and she said the hardest thing was giving them back (some of them). But as with everything, a few bad apples are still fostered out, that can change your perception for the worst, but she used top say, " I'ts hard for someone who has never been loved, to accept love unconditionally."

Again, well done mate, a big thing to take on and one so desperatly needed with some of the freaks that call themselves parents.

my sister and bro in law are doing it at the moment. They had a young boy 9mnths old. Nearly had him for 12 mnths and said it was so hard to give him away cause they got so attached. Sorry that's all I can remember at the moment.

Mate - one of the most rewarding think one can do for another....

I have not done this myself so far, however it is on the list of things to do once I am settled and married etc...

Congrats to you and your wife... I know of a few families that have done this and all above notes are consistent with the comments I have heard from them also...

Also hoping to adopt once I'm settled also...

Really to admire and believe you and your wife will be happy and very well rewarded!

All the best with it!

We've got a 3 year old girl. She came unexpected, and even though we're quite young we totally love parenting to peices. Kids are a sponge for information and it's crazy watching how quickly they learn. No matter what anyone says about kids, they are so much fun.

Hats off to you guys. You won't regret it.

Oh, and no matter what people teach/tell you, it's mostly just your own instinct and judgement. Well done mate

Edited May 13, 200818 yr by R-SPEC

Do you have room for a real big baby ?? when can I move in ? give you all the practice you can handle diapers the lot.huh huh

Seriously Luke my hat goes off to to you and your missus , what a totally selfless thing to do. God bless you.

I am sure that there are plenty of kids who couldn't wish for anything better than you are offering .

Well done champ

I am sure the kids would rather a ride in a T or G6E Turbo , not some stodgy Beemer

I have known adults who fostered kids and had both good and bad experiences.

I have personally worked with teens who lived with foster parents and respite.

a lot will depend on the age of the children you will be caring for and what situations they have come from.

Do you have children of your own?

PC

ps: pm me if you would like more info

Wow. Appreciate all the support and comments guys. Thankyou.

Dee and I dont have kids. We decided some time ago against having our own, partly because of work committments, partly because we both had the travel bug. Recently we realised there has to be more to life than just work and the usual daily routine, and we wanted to give something back, if that makes sence.

We have the will and the capabilty to be able to help someone who needs it, so we thought we would give fostering a go.

I am sure it will be a massive challenge but we are up for it.

Six years ago our daughter got involved with hard drugs and just disappeared off the face of the earth.

Before leaving she abandoned her then 14 yr old special needs daughter with us after the girl was sexually assaulted by a previous boyfriend.

Grand daughter is now 18 and has the intellect of about a 12 yr old amongst other problems.

In reference to your questions......

On the negative side is the amount of emotional baggage a lot of these kids carry.....unfortunately,most of it with good reason too....

However....on the plus side,this is far outweighed by the satisfaction that yourself and your wife will feel when you see the difference that you have made to their lives.....

Good luck to you both ......

Holy sh*t Bionic, just goes to show, when you are down, there is someone who is worse off having a real crack at it. A sad sad story indeed, hope it has a happy ending.

Scotty