[kristintj]

Are there any of you out there who have gone to Guatemala to be the Foster parent of your child until the adoption was final? We are considering the option of doing this and would love to here your stories, input, and advice.

Thanks,

Kristin

P.S. The reason we are so desperate to go down there is that our SWI was on Oct. 27. After 10 weeks of waiting for the report, we we were told that the SW's computer "blew-up" and that she would have to reinterview the ** and wirite a whole new report... We are now hoping to have in by the beginning of January. This feels like cruel joke. Anyway, we don't feel like we can wait to be with our daughter for much longer...

[JunipersMom]

Yup I did!! LOVED it too, and I miss Antigua so much!

I was there from May 20 until we got home on August 12.

[csw]

I fostered in Antigua also..rented a townhouse..there are also apt's and single family homes. I could look out my bathroom window to a volcano..pretty cool..

[Mia's Daddy]

Kristina fostered Mia during our process. It made the transition to the USA much less difficult. She was definitely ready to be home but she doesn't regret it at all

[sandy16]

We are also thinking about fostering for a month or two in May and June. Can anyone give me any tips on how to find an apartment, what to look for, etc.? I haven't really talked to my agency yet, but I don't get the sense that they have a lot of families who foster. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!


Sandy

[sandy16]

Ignore this -- I just wanted to see if my new signature works!!

[kristintj]

I'm just trying to figure all this our as well- I was able to find a house to rent in Antigua, but they only rent to people they personally know. Finally, the fact that my mother is a "talker" has helped me out! ! Anyway, our agency has never had anyone go down to foster before... I can believe it too- our facilitator has been careful to tell us all the things that can go wrong... I guess it's her job, but she has scared the living snot out of me. I think we'll still go though- I don't know if that means we're a couple of naive punks or super loving parents, but I'm content with being something in between. I think in the long run that this could be the most beautiful and painful experience of our lifetime and that sounds a lot like parenthood to me!

I just hope I don't become the mother of a parasite or an ameoba as well...One dependant is about all I think I can handle!

[African Safari]

Personal question: How in the world can you afford to foster for that long?

[JunipersMom]

Personally - we can't and couldn't afford it. We knew that's what we wanted to do and we knew that I wouldn't work when we got her home.. so starting in January when we signed with our agency we lived off of my husbands salary and saved all mine for adoption costs and fostering. We are still just barely getting by and we got home in August! We are hoping that the tax stuff will help us to get caught up a bit. BUT, I wouldn't trade it for the world! I'm getting sick of beans and rice - but I'd eat it forever to foster again!

Hard but worth it for sure!