[HeatherRene]

Name Heather
Age 34
State TX

How long you have been foster parenting: ONE WEEK TODAY!

How many children you have had over the years. 1, 19 mo T.

What age groups/situations your home is open to. 6 wks to 4.

DO you have bio children? No

Have you adopted through the foster system or Are you looking to adopt? no

What has been your biggest blessing? When T wakes up all bright eyed and smiling (after I pick him up, he starts out crying. )

What has been your biggest complaint? so many people to work with/meet with etc

What has been your biggest support? Friends and family, and other foster mom friend from PRIDE Class

What has been your biggest heartbreak? the meeting this morning with mom. had a lot of compassion for her and her situation. She was very thankful I was taking care of T and seemed so sincere.

[mommyto9]

Hi! I'm Mindy
35 almost 36
Indiana
Been fostering for 1 year 1 month
Fostered 9 children so far. 6 have gone home. 1 we've had for 1 year 10 days, and 2 for almost 8 months.
We are licensed for 0-18, but prefer 0-5
Pretty open to any situation except severe disabilities and sexual abuse
We have 4 bio. children girl-16, boy-15, boy-13, girl-11
haven't adopted yet
Would love to adopt, Hopefully the one we've had for 1 year??
Biggest Blessing - the children!! Loved each and every one of them!!!!!
Biggest Complaint- the waiting and the day to day changes with the parents!!
Biggest Support- My dh and children and of course our church family
Biggest heartbreak- When our first two little guys went home, I cried and cried, I couldn't even talk at the case conference b/c I was crying.

Nice to meet you all.

Mindy

[HeatherRene]

Heather, again, I need to add another complaint...
NOSY PEOPLE! Why does everyone want to know "why was he taken? what'd they do to him?"
NUNYA BIZNESS!!!!!

[momto9]

Hi! I am Vickie.

I am 43 dh 46.
Idaho
Got foster license July 2002, got first foster kids Jan 2003 (got license to adopt first dd).
We've had 11 foster kids, 5 respite. None in care now.
Licensed for emergency now. 0-18 prefer preschool age since we homeschool and don't want to drive in school age.
3 bio children- 25, 24, 23 (7 1/2 grandkids)
We have adopted 6 kids, 4 of which were our foster sibling group, another adopted out of foster system (1st adoption) and baby was a private adoption.
Biggest Blessings: Family
Biggest Complaint: Ignorant people
Biggest Support: God and Family
Biggest Heartbreak: Knowing what some of these kids go thru in birth homes.

[michelleb]

Hi Vickie..
so nice to meet you!
Thanks for posting!!
Look forward to chatting with you more!

[aunt lisa]

Mindy where are you in Indiana, we are in Aurora and trying to find someone to chat with....We are our foster to adopt but took some time off due to illness. lisa

[Withay]

Lynda
49 and single
Oregon

How long you have been foster parenting: Since Aug. 2002

How many children you have had over the years: 20, currently have 2 boys - 3 months and 1 week

What age groups/situations your home is open to: 0 - 2

DO you have bio children? Nope - never been blessed

Have you adopted through the foster system or
Are you looking to adopt? Foster and foster/adopt

What has been your biggest blessing? The smiles of the wee ones

What has been your biggest complaint? Being lied to by a caseworker

What has been your biggest support? God and my family

What has been your biggest heartbreak? Being lied to by the caseworker who told me I would (97%) be able to adopt my fs, only to have him placed elsewhere

Blessings to all

[GaileyGail]

Name: Gail
Age: 33
State: VA
How long you have been foster parenting or
How long you have been in the process to become licensed.
A little over a year

How many children you have had over the years.
3

What age groups/situations your home is open to.
0 - 5, but the oldest we've ever had was 3 at time of placement.

DO you have bio children?
No

Have you adopted through the foster system or
Are you looking to adopt?
We'd love to adopt the 2 we have now...we just have to see how the process goes. It's been a little bit of a rollercoaster

What has been your biggest blessing?
Being able to help the kids...Seeing them feel safe, secure and happy makes every day worth it.

What has been your biggest complaint?
While we understand the process, sometimes it's hard/frustrating. There have been a couple of things that haven't seemed in the best interest of the kids.


What has been your biggest support?
Family. We also have great relationships with our caseworkers.

What has been your biggest heartbreak?
When our first placement returned to home. Because of the situation, noone thought she would return home. We knew there was always a risk, but everyone involved in the case was shocked. The worst part is when the caseworker came to pick her up and made me put her in the car. She drove away with the windows open and I could hear her screaming mommy. It was horrible.

[jen1mac]

Name: Jen
Age: 31
State: WA
How long you have been foster parenting or
How long you have been in the process to become licensed.
1 1/2 years
How many children you have had over the years.
1

What age groups/situations your home is open to.
0 - 7

DO you have bio children?
Yes, Emma-5 Kayla-4 and Abby is in heaven.

Have you adopted through the foster system or
Are you looking to adopt?
We are only foster adopt right now and we are hoping to adopt fd who is 10 months.

What has been your biggest blessing?
When I saw and held our fd for the first time and then waking up in the middle of the night to feed her her first midnight feed.

What has been your biggest complaint?
Changing social workers so much Just when you get to know one you get another


What has been your biggest support?
God and our church family and our family


What has been your biggest heartbreak? Meeting birthmom and seeing how young she was and how much she was hurting