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Our Foster Parenting journey, part 2

I don't think we really understood what we were walking in to.  My heart was heavy, I was feeling led to act on behalf of this child.  His story is not a happy one, and his future held (and still holds) many unknowns.  Jeff and I felt that we had an opportunity to intercede for him.  Our hope was that we could give him safety, security, a loving family environment, and discipline, for what ever amount of time that God would allow. In the beginning we really thought that he would be joining our family forever, but we knew there was a chance that it wouldn't work out that way.  When you are dealing with the government, and the Social Welfare system, you are truly in a powerless position.  What is best for the child is determined by a set of guidelines, and the discernment of a judge, and unfortunately those guidelines are influenced by many factors that have very little to do with the child's best interest.

I came into this Foster Parent role feeling very prepared.  After all, I am 45 years old, I have been a parent for the last 16 years.  My children are well adjusted, good, loving human beings.  How hard could it be to parent another 5 year old, right? Lol!!  Not!  Foster parenting is a different ball game my friends.  You are working from a completely different baseline.  Foster kids come to you having had a very different life experience from your own children.  They likely have had no consistent love & discipline, they may have been neglected, or abused, they are traumatized, they don't trust you, they are confused about parent/child roles, they act out in ways you couldn't imagine one of your children doing.

We have been foster parents for 5 months now.  We are learning every day.  Some days are great, we get through our daily life with little incident. Some not so much. My patience has been stretched way beyond the breaking point. Some days I am bewildered, wondering how I will get through another day. Other days, I look at this child and think about the impact being a part of this family is having on his life, whether just for a season, or for forever.  Maybe, just maybe, this time will make a lasting impression on his heart.  Maybe, when faced with a decision in the future to do something bad or something good, he will choose good, because he has known this love. That is how I get through the next day.

Every day I am filled with gratitude for the blessing each of these children is to me.  My sons are a treasure to me, and I can't even express how privileged I feel to be given the opportunity to raise them. They are not perfect, believe me.  But if you know me at all, you know my favorite saying, "Perfection is overrated".

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