Originally Posted By
barki
Small children in foster care KNOW when they are there as a part of the job and when they are truly cared about. I imagine that babies would know too, from all the indications we have on attachment and bonding issues gleaned from years of experience with bonded and non-bonded children. It is not only important, it is VITAL. Vital means "needed for survival". People tend to pass off issues with non-verbal people because we can't understand that they do understand and feel things.
I think the saddest thing my husband ever told me was that he can remember foster homes (more than one) where the people didn't care about him. They fed him and took care of his physical needs, but didn't care about HIM. All of this happened between ages 2 and 5, and he STILL remembers those feelings now when he's in his 40's. What foster parents do with the children in their care DOES LAST A LIFETIME, so make it count!
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