Author: Julie H., Foster Mom
At first glance, you might think this blog is about kids and their foster siblings. As in, kids in their house who they live with due to the foster care system. For example, my biological children, Luke, Sam, and Johnny as they relate to Miss D. But nope, that’s not what I’m referring to.
I’m referring to my sisters that I have gained through being a foster parent. I call them foster-sisters. The sisters that are foster moms of kids I provide respite for or foster moms of Miss D’s siblings. This past weekend I got a text from a foster-sister mom that showed me she needed some support from a foster-sister mom. My husband and I jumped in the car and headed her way. I was able to sit with her and help her through the situation and provide her moral support and just be someone who could just sit there with her. That same weekend, another foster-sister texted me with a “halleluiah” because her foster teen is excited to go to school for the first time in 3 years. Then, also that same weekend, I got another text from another foster-sister mom and I told her that I love that I have her as a foster-sister…and she replied “Honey, you can take the “foster” off of that label. We are sisters.” Words could not be more true.
Fostering teens is not the easiest thing in the world. It takes a special kind of person (I think we must all be a little nutty) to foster a teenager. We have unique struggles and need to rely on each other because no one else “gets it”. They don’t. Unless you’ve walked the walk, you just won’t get it. So thanks to all my SISTERS out there in my foster family and world! Here’s to YOU!
