[HappyMomAnna]

I personally think that we all need to be concerned about the family unit we are responsible for. I can imagine that it is difficult to draw a line--but our forever children always deserve to have 100% of what we are able to give them. I don't feel it is selfish or wrong to pull back and give your family what eveery member needs.

We all have compassion for the children and it is sometimes difficult to make hard choices as you have--but, we are responsible for ourselves and our families best interest first.... You may later find other ways to help children who need you. You may decide to stay out of fostering for a number of years... Either way you have every right to make the choices that are the best for your family.... As all parents have the right and obligation to do....

Life is long and there are many hard choices we do have to make.... I personally think it is good to give your family time and I feel (many may disagree) that the children you are adopting deserve the time to have you for themselves.... I would imagine that seeing children coe and go may in fact leave doubt in thier minds... I think it is difficult for little ones to REALLY understand what Forever Parents really means after the things they have been through--a period of life without witnessing children come and go would be best in my opionion..... This will give them the chance to feel the most special....and that they are where they belong....

There is nothing that will stop you from returning later except that you decide it is for the best.... and there isn't a rule that says once you Foster then you have to do so forever....

I can imagine the hardest part is thinking about the children you might have helpped or need your help.....and with all of this that is the Hardest thing for most of us to deal with....If I had my way I would adopt them all--but that is not possible and as much help as we individuals offer the saddest fact of all is that it is simply never enough--and there will be no day in the future where retirement will not include this reality... It breaks the heart of all of us who see the system and understand how everything we do is merely a drop in the bucket--but the fact is we can only do the things we can--and we do need to make sure our Families are safe--secure--and special first....

When a person becomes a Life Guard the training is intense.... But the number one thing a Life Guard learns to to recognize the situations where one drowning person could become two--and include you.... Life guards are in charge of REAL life and death situations every day--the thing they must learn is to look at the scene and decide when the risk is greater then their own strength.