a pondering pootle

“Don’t do NOTHING, because you can’t do EVERYTHING. Do SOMETHING…” (Colleen Patrick-Goudreau)

Last month we had our Annual Fostering Review and we were approved as a fostering family for another year.

We started out our fostering journey offering support to a friend who is a foster carer. Before long we started to seriously look at becoming full time foster carers ourselves. Without a spare room and no way of extending or moving home we were frustrated that we couldn’t do more.

At the time we used to often refer to ourselves in conversations as ‘just’ support carers. Without realising it at the time, we felt that if we couldn’t do it all that it was somehow less significant. We realise now it was a completely self-imposed undervaluing of what we are doing. SUPPORT MATTERS and makes a difference in so many ways. Recently even more people we know have taken up the challenge of becoming foster carers, maybe it’s something you could consider or maybe, like us, you have a part to play in supporting those that do.

The thing is, “Just because you can’t do everything, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do what you can!” (William J Clinton)

Also, just because something isn’t usually done, doesn’t mean it can’t be done! Our approval isn’t the norm and we’ve had to be persistent at times to help people see what could be done rather than what couldn’t. But in not giving up, despite not having a spare room, we have become fully approved foster carers – offering daytime support, peripatetic support (staying in the carers home) and overnight care for children for whom a room sharing agreement is appropriate.

We get to share in the lives of some very special, amazing, resilient young people. It’s not always easy and sometimes it costs. But, it is a privilege beyond words to get to play our part in their story and there is great joy as we see them discover their true identity and worth.