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Family Matters:  foster parents  |
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mellaisbella
True Blue Farmgirl
1862 Posts
melanie
living on Anne of Green
Gables land
Canada
1862 Posts |
 Posted - Sep 28 2006 : 1:26:30 PM
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Hello to you all
My husband and I have a big ol' farm house, 5 bedrooms. We have decided to fill it full of foster children. We are just in the beginning stages right now, but I would love to hear from others that are already foster parents or are thinking about it. Thanks, mella
mellaisbella "I wanna touch the earth, I want to break it in my hands, I want to grow something wild and unruly" |
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katiedid
True Blue Farmgirl
601 Posts
Kate
West Jordan
Utah
USA
601 Posts |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Sep 28 2006 : 1:40:55 PM
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Yep...I have a houseful of company today..but would love to chat about foster care... I love it and have done it alot. 5 of my 7 kids are adopted..all as waiting kids in foster care. I am excited to hear that you are interested..there is such a big need! If I had a bigger house I would for sure have more kids. (can't beleive I just said that..haha)
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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Hideaway Farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1553 Posts
Jo
Virginia
USA
1553 Posts |
Posted - Oct 02 2006 : 06:04:49 AM
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Melanie, (Or should I call you Marilla, reincarnated)
The children you will foster will have a wonderful place to grow up, and it sounds like you and your hubby will be great foster parents. Best wishes to you in your efforts, and may you receive love and happiness that you will bring to others.
Jo |
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mellaisbella
True Blue Farmgirl
1862 Posts
melanie
living on Anne of Green
Gables land
Canada
1862 Posts |
Posted - Oct 02 2006 : 09:52:51 AM
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WoW Jo, thanks sooo very much, that was very nice of you to say and what a great compliment to be called Marilla!!!
mellaisbella "I wanna touch the earth, I want to break it in my hands, I want to grow something wild and unruly" |
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ladybugsmom6
True Blue Farmgirl
128 Posts
Tami
Horicon
WI
USA
128 Posts |
Posted - Oct 06 2006 : 07:24:17 AM
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You have a great heart to concider bringing these special kids into your home! YEAH you! My parents once owned a6 bedroom house and in addition to the 6 of us kids and 2 stepkids, we had fosterkids for a time. It taught us all alot about living and loving and reaching out our arms to those in need. Sometimes we just had kids for a night or two so they could have some cool down times from their parents, some we had for years, they all took a part of our hearts that we will all treasure forever. Now many years later, My mom at age 53 is certified for fostercare and ready to adopt another family. It is worth your love! Enjoy
-Tami
now ladybugsmom7 |
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CabinCreek-Kentucky
True Blue Farmgirl
8529 Posts
Frannie
Green County
Kentucky
USA
8529 Posts |
Posted - Oct 06 2006 : 6:23:00 PM
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my daughter's 'care-mother' who watched them while i worked many years ago fostered many children in the years the girls were with her. they ended up adopting two of them .. at the time (about 30 years ago) .. adopting your foster children was frowned on for some strange reason) .. but they had a few very 'hard to place' children that the state finally let them adopt. they have all grown into wonderfully happy adults.
(oh .. they also had 4 biological children too!) our daughters felt these were brothers and sisters and we are all friends even into adulthood. these dear children need tender loving care. (our oldest daughter, kristen, we adopted when she was two). xo
True Friends, Frannie
CABIN CREEK FARM
KENTUCKY
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Oct 06 2006 : 8:33:38 PM
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It really has changed now. They always try to place the foster kids as soon as possible with a foster family who could or would adopt the kids if that becomes the way things end up. They have figured out now that the less moves in their lives the better and that being part of a foster family it is hard to wrench them away for their forever family. If they get to stay where they are (and it is possible) it is sure easier. Some of my kids had different situations and were in foster care for awhile and then we were their forever family who came along..not as easy to adjust. Two of our kids were foster kids who became ours through adoption..much easier..they already were part of the family. I wouldn't change a thing
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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Libbie
Farmgirl Connection Cultivator
3579 Posts
Anne E.
Elsinore
Utah
USA
3579 Posts |
Posted - Oct 06 2006 : 10:20:25 PM
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My husband works in a state youth shelter and he sees plenty of kids come and go from some pretty strange and awful situations. I hold you foster parents in the highest of esteem. I know that there are people, especially mothers, whose hearts can expand to hold the care of many hearts. You are doing such a wonderful thing for these kids - something that turns out to be the most important thing in their lives. Wow.
XOXO, Libbie
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
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mellaisbella
True Blue Farmgirl
1862 Posts
melanie
living on Anne of Green
Gables land
Canada
1862 Posts |
Posted - Oct 07 2006 : 02:03:23 AM
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Thanks so much all of you for sharing......I will share now too...When I was 19 i got pregnant...not planned, but anyway....my boyfriend and I, although young...were wise and realized that it was not our time to be parents....We decided to give the child up fpr adoption....well, that was not in the cards either as the baby boy was born with a neural tube defect and hydrociphalis anyway the poor wee child (we named him John) only lived two days...the adopting family was devestated as was I...Now here I am married to a wonderful man and we discover that he is unable to have children, and now we want to adopt (funny how things work out).... both have decided that our hearts and our home are ready for children...our goal is to adopt some of the foster children when we are ready...I'm sure we will "just know" when that time comes........In the meantime...the social workers are coming to oour house next week...I'll keep you posted.....thanks again ladies for sharing you kind words and your stories.....God Bless Mella
mellaisbella "I wanna touch the earth, I want to break it in my hands, I want to grow something wild and unruly" |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Oct 07 2006 : 08:51:41 AM
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my best advice is ASK A ZILLION QUESTIONS ABOUT EACH CHILD. Some social workers...though well meaning, will not tell you things that may keep you from taking a child..things you SHOULD know! If you ask, they will tell you but if you don't ask some won't. Not all are that way of course, but how will you know? The first foster kids we had were so scary and if I would have asked more questions in the first place I may have still taken them in, but would have known more what I was dealing with. You will do so great Mella!!
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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Hideaway Farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1553 Posts
Jo
Virginia
USA
1553 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2006 : 10:50:27 AM
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Yes, I think I will call you Marilla! And wasn't the original Marilla and Matthew all the better for having Anne Shirley come into their lives, even though she wasn't the "boy" they thought they needed.
We will look forward to hearing of your experiences; the good, the bad, the ugly and the snuggly. There will be (Good luck with the social workers, too! Talk about nervous!)
Jo |
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shoptea
Farmgirl in Training
23 Posts
Martha
SAINT ALBANS
MAINE
USA
23 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2006 : 1:31:17 PM
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Mella, I was a Foster mom for 10 years in the State of Pa. It can be very rewarding and also be filled with heart break. You have to remember that when a child is placed in fostercare there is or was a problem with their home life. So no matter how young or old there will be some problems that come up and will need to be handled.
Now on the brighter side, I did adopt my son Matthew thru the fostercare system - Matthew is multi-handicapped but the joy of my life.
http://www.villagehavenfarm.com
Country Farm Store - We carry Tea, Country Teapots,Goat Milk Soap and more and yes we even sell Goat Cookies! |
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daffodil dreamer
True Blue Farmgirl
805 Posts
Jayne
Hamilton
Victoria
Australia
805 Posts |
Posted - Nov 03 2006 : 9:05:54 PM
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Hi Mella,
Wondering how this is all coming along? You (and the other farmgirls out there) have such wonderful, kind, giving hearts - those children will be so lucky!
Best wishes,
Jayne |
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mellaisbella
True Blue Farmgirl
1862 Posts
melanie
living on Anne of Green
Gables land
Canada
1862 Posts |
Posted - Nov 05 2006 : 3:30:53 PM
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hey there....well..things are great...I'm up to my eyeballs in wallpaper right now trying to get rooms ready. this house hasn't seen wallpapaer or paint since the 70's! eek!! We are sure when we will be getting a child, but our social workers said that it could be a s soon as 6 weeks...thanks for asking I'll keep you posted
mellaisbella "I wanna touch the earth, I want to break it in my hands, I want to grow something wild and unruly" |
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Alaska farm girl
True Blue Farmgirl
123 Posts
dorothy
skagway
Alaska
USA
123 Posts |
Posted - Nov 05 2006 : 4:03:19 PM
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Hi,my mom was a foster parent for many years. She is sooo loved by so many and they come and give her hugs,even those who have moms but love mine!
I just finished reading Ellen Foster,can't remember the authors name.That book was so heartbreaking but it also inspired me to think about being a foster parent.With 1 in college,1 living with her dad and finishing h.s. in a big city and me raising the 6 year old by himself,I've decided to try and make another child happy too.Not to sure if hubby is as acceptable to the idea,but I'll keep working on him! There are just so many kids out there who deserve a chance for a normal, happy upbringing. Good luck to you~! |
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daffodil dreamer
True Blue Farmgirl
805 Posts
Jayne
Hamilton
Victoria
Australia
805 Posts |
Posted - Nov 05 2006 : 7:12:02 PM
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Mella,
How exciting - I'm so happy for you!
Best wishes,
Jayne |
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Anastasia
True Blue Farmgirl
56 Posts
Anastasia
Telkwa
BC
Canada
56 Posts |
Posted - Nov 06 2006 : 3:15:29 PM
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I've been thinking about this for a long time too, and admire all of you who have gotten involved. I've thought more about adoption than fostering, particularly the kids over the 'golden age' of five who are in the system but not a popular 'choice.' I was just married last weekend and now have a 3.5 year old step-daughter part-time, but truly believe I've the heart space for those who need it. We'll see what happens with time. :)
Good luck and thank you for looking after the wee ones!
Cheers,
Anastasia :)
"Speciality is for insects." -Robert Heinlen |
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mellaisbella
True Blue Farmgirl
1862 Posts
melanie
living on Anne of Green
Gables land
Canada
1862 Posts |
Posted - Nov 07 2006 : 07:48:12 AM
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Hello my fellow Canuck!!! My husband and I also want to adopt. We have decided to be foster parents first and then if a child, that is a ward of the court, comes into our care that we have a bond with, we will adopt them. WE also want to be caregivers to older children...We pray that we will have the strength and patience...
mellaisbella "I wanna touch the earth, I want to break it in my hands, I want to grow something wild and unruly" |
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Family Matters: foster parents |
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foster parents
