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So last week I was asked this question for the very first time and I answered with a resounding YES. The curious member of public who had asked then replied ’wow, you’ve got your hands full.’ And she’s right, I do have my hands full. I have 5 children. That’s enough to fill anyone’s hands. But forget about me in all this because as I answered with YES I saw two sets of panicked eyes relax and even smile (a bit). You see I have 3 children by birth and 2 by circumstance, my foster kids. For both foster kids they’re temporary members of my family,
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but while they are with us I cook for them, wash for them, clean for them, drive for them, nag for them, cry for them, smile for them ….. You get the picture? While they are with us they are mine – and from the look of it they seem to like being mine too!
Don’t get me wrong, I am not their mum and I have promised them both that I will not try or expect to be. Both kids have their own mums, who despite anything/everything that’s gone before they will love deeply forever. Nothing can change that
Being in care is tough; being wrenched from the
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only life you know to live with a load of strangers is not what any person wants, let alone a vulnerable child – but that’s what has happened to 2 of my children. They have moved into my household and had to adjust to new routines, endure new diets, live new lifestyles and even learn to love camping!
I have had to get to know them too, learning what they like and dislike, what makes them laugh and cry, their dreams and aspirations (if they know them yet) so that I can try and build a home life for them that can attempt to buffer the shock coming into
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care has caused.
I am extremely proud of my children, both temporary and permanent. My foster children manage to go to school, play with their friends, do their homework, go to bed all with the heavy burdens of their past, and future, to carry. My birth children manage to adapt to an ever changing family life, learn to love new siblings and share their parents’ love and care with compassion and generosity. They are amazing kids, and they are mine, all mine!
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Delores - 11 Apr 16
So last week I was asked this question for the very first time and I answered with a resounding YES. The curious member of public who had asked then replied ‘wow, you’ve got your hands full.’ And she’s right, I do have my hands full. I have 5 children. That’s enough to fill anyone’s hands. But forget about me in all this because as I answered with YES I saw two sets of panicked eyes relax and even smile (a bit). You see I have 3 children by birth and 2 by circumstance, my foster kids. For both foster kids they’re temporary members of my family, but while they are with us I cook for them, wash for them, clean for them, drive for them, nag for them, cry for them, smile for them ….. You get the picture? While they are with us they are mine – and from the look of it they seem to like being mine too!
Don’t get me wrong, I am not their mum and I have promised them both that I will not try or expect to be. Both kids have their own mums, who despite anything/everything that’s gone before they will love deeply forever. Nothing can change that
Being in care is tough; being wrenched from the only life you know to live with a load of strangers is not what any person wants, let alone a vulnerable child – but that’s what has happened to 2 of my children. They have moved into my household and had to adjust to new routines, endure new diets, live new lifestyles and even learn to love camping!
I have had to get to know them too, learning what they like and dislike, what makes them laugh and cry, their dreams and aspirations (if they know them yet) so that I can try and build a home life for them that can attempt to buffer the shock coming into care has caused.
I am extremely proud of my children, both temporary and permanent. My foster children manage to go to school, play with their friends, do their homework, go to bed all with the heavy burdens of their past, and future, to carry. My birth children manage to adapt to an ever changing family life, learn to love new siblings and share their parents’ love and care with compassion and generosity. They are amazing kids, and they are mine, all mine!
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A full time foster carer, mother and trainee Vicar's wife. Enjoying the challenges of every high, low, bump and slide of life