01/14/09 - How will fostering affect my own children?

 

"I'm considering becoming a foster parent, but I'm not sure how it will affect my own children."

We hear this quite often. Families who are called to foster have concerns about how their own children will respond to the situation. In our experience, most biological children adjust very well to having foster brothers and sisters-and in fact, they grow as a result.

Consider this recent story shared by a Cornerstone foster mother:
My mother-in-law raised four children and has eight grandchildren that she is close with. She knows kids pretty well. After Christmas, she spent a week with our family. She commented to my husband that she noticed how independent our two children are. She thought it was great and attributed it to fostering. She said they are regular kids who have to be reminded to hang up their jackets but they do it without complaint. They understand that it's how they help our family when we are busy helping a foster child.

What a wonderful testament! We continue to receive confirmation that fostering is an opportunity for emotional and spiritual growth - for both adults and children.

If you or someone you know is "on the fence" about fostering because you're unsure how your children will be affected, we invite you to contact us.