ROLLER COASTER

Life as a foster parent can be quite challenging. This blog will help me process some of the experiences we encounter along the way.

I have been a foster parent for almost five years. I got my first foster child when I was 24 years old. He was 7. He lived with me for one year, one month, one week, and one day -- exactly.

While I was dating my husband, I had two teenage foster daughters on short-term placement. Since we have been married, we have provided respite for three others.

This year we have decided that we are ready to commit to a full-time foster care responsibility. We have narrowed our options, for the time being, to younger boys (to take a break from the five teenage girls we've had). We were called a little over four weeks ago and told that there was a six year old boy that they were going to request custody for on August 19th (this past Friday). We told them we were interested in accepting him as a part of our family, if he became available. The last four weeks have seemed to drag on. Friday morning was even worse. When the caseworker called and told me that the judge had decided to let the child remain with his family, I was a little disappointed.

Later Friday afternoon we got a call saying that the County was at a home with a baby boy that they might be placing. We said, again, that we would be interested in helping out. Once again, the child was not placed in the custody of the County.

Needless to say, it was a very emotional day (thus the "Roller Coaster" title on today's post). But I am sure that it won't be long before we'll be welcoming another child into our home. Until then, I am keeping busy with other things. This is just part of the foster parenting process. It's not the fun part, but we'll be okay!