Foster Care Awareness Month

May is Foster Care Awareness Month. It’s no secret that we were foster parents. Were, past tense. The system fails not just the kids and often their birth families, but it also fails foster parents.

Our foster parenting journey ended because our team failed us. We were not supported when we needed it most. Our parenting team was non-existent, and somehow,  that was our fault.

I would absolutely love to encourage you to get in the mud, to be there for the kids/families that need you. I can’t say it was worth it. And, I can’t tell you I would do it again. I would caution you not to thrust yourself into the fray  unless you have the resources to defend yourself when the system fails you (because it will).

It brought us some of our best moments in life. It brought me my son/granddaughter and all the kids that I claim my heart.

But, it also brought the worst 18 months I’ve ever lived. Even worse than when my son was in prison. Those months should never have happened. If things happened the way they were supposed to happen, meaning:  transparency and communication from the department. The whole ordeal and the pain suffered by all parties could have been avoided altogether.