[jk22]

First, do you know how common this is?
I dont hear much on here about it.

How did your foster family react when you called them?

what questions did you ask?

did you keep in contact with internet?

is it rare for them to have phone and internet service there?

did you get to hear your baby on the phone?

are there things we shouldnt talk about or things we shouldnt say that might offend them?

thanks, any answers or advice GREATLY appreciated!
jk

[mildredjohn]

We were in contact by phone with our foster mom every week during our adoption process. I speak Spanish fluently, so that made it easier.

They love it, they were waiting every week for my call. And if I called in a different day they were worried for us. ALl the family wanted to talk with me!

I used to called her every Wed or Fri. We talked about how the baby was doing, what she was eating, sleeping, etc... also if she (fm) had done anything regarding with the process like FC interviews, passport, doctors appointment, etc.

I also talked to Maria Jose and say the same thing to her. When we got there and I said that phrase she recognized the voice and looked pretty familiar to it. It was really nice and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

many blessings,

[jk22]

have experience with this?

[Anne22]

Hi!

I don't know how common it is, particularly if you're like me and you don't speak Spanish very well! I was in contact with the foster family via telephone and via e-mail for the wait between my visit and pick-up trips. I only called once, I think. Because of the language barrier (no one in the foster family speaks English well and, as I said, my Spanish is pretty marginal), the call was short and kind of awkward. I got to speak to Gabriel, but he didn't speak back. Now that I'm home, I see that's pretty typical with him. He's fascinated by the phone and when you put it up to his ear to hear someone he knows, he smiles really broadly and then tries to play with the buttons.

I'm not sure how common it is for foster families to have computer access. Gabriel's family did, I think, in part, because the foster father and two of the foster brothers all work in the computer industry! The foster Mom and I e-mailed each other about once a week, once every other week. In one of my first e-mails I asked for a real description of how Gabriel and the foster Mom spent their day -- from when he got up to when he went to sleep. I also asked for detailed information about the foster family, so that I'd have that to share with Gabriel when he gets older. At my request, they took lots and lots of photos of themselves with and without Gabriel.

I spent some time with the foster family when I went to pick up Gabriel, which was so great. We talked about all sorts of things. I felt so lucky to have some time to really get to know them a bit.

Hope this helps!

[jk22]

bumping up thanks for info so far!

[candkss]

Bumping you up.

[menadam]

I know several people with kids in foster care right now and phone and internet are not options. My dd fmom did not speak English, so that would be out for me and i do not believe she has a computer. I know she didn't have a washing machine.
We did converse thru an interpreter at the hotel. I took disposable cameras which she used to take lots of pictures of dd. I feel she was cared for very well, but i don't believe fmom had a lot of EXTRAS.