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Adoption

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Managing contact with foster carers

6 replies

Smallperson123 · 16/06/2022 17:26

I just feel like we've had two horrendous days with foster carers and their expectations of their relationships with our child.

First child was adopted 5 years ago aged 8 months. Was with FC for those 8 months. We met with the foster carer at the park. For context we meet about once a year - because we all live very busy lives (her included). Met with anger that they didn't get a cuddle and just wanted to play and wouldn't sit and chat with her.

Whilst this may be unreasonable of me, I felt an insane sense of rage when first child was having a sandwich, hadn't even finished, and without asking child or us as parents, started wiping their face. I don't know why I felt so angry - but it's almost as if she was doing the parenting rather than us. It may have just been something she does as she does have a lot of babies.

Child is not bothered at all about contact. it has no clear benefits or negative effects.

Second child, much newer as I'm nearly going back to work. they are 2 now but adopted when about 13 months. Very clingy child - as I don't think the attachment is quite there yet - but all good - quite glad to be depended on. FC gets quite upset that there's no cuddle and that she is quite clearly rejected - probably based on a residual memory. For context, introductions were done over a 2 month period, but it became too draining to maintain contact for everybody involved due to distance so this is the first time in about 6 months since we have seen them.

Contact has had a negative effect on second child - but really miniscule. I'm just not able to increase contact due to going back to work soon.

How do people manage contact with FC after placement? Does it fizzle out like I'm praying ours does?? I feel like the FC have unrealistic expectations of the children which set them up to fail!

OP posts:
Ted27 · 16/06/2022 18:44

this may sound harsh but contact is for the benefit of the child not the FC. If there is no benefit then just stop and write once or twice a year,

Her behaviour does sound inappropriate, I’d be inclined to speak to the SWs, explain and get them to handle it.
You don’t have to meet them and it shouldnt cause you stress

flapjackfairy · 16/06/2022 18:49

well once you have the adoption order you can make your own rules unless it is court ordered ( which would be unusual )
Contact is supposed to be about the interests of the child so if it is having a detrimental effect then stop it and just send a card at christmas etc.
You really have no obligation to make the child meet a need for the foster carers to make them feel better. they should be supportive of the transfer of attachment and be doing everything to reinforce it.
And I speak as a foster carer and adoptor so can see it from all sides.

Jellycatspyjamas · 16/06/2022 21:25

I totally agree, if ongoing contact isn’t beneficial for your children I’d put a stop to it - in my case contact was actively harmful to my kids and I simply refused to engage any longer, pre adoption order I outlined the harm to my kids and made it clear I wouldn’t be continuing.

EG88 · 16/06/2022 21:31

FC and adopter here - I'd agree with all that is being said above. You call the shots for your children and only do what is of benefit to them. Who are you arranging contact for? If it is for FC benefit then it might be time to stop. Ultimately a foster carer must want to see "their" little ones move forward and form secure attachments with their families - it might be heartbreaking but it is also joyful and wonderful and why we do what we do x

Smallperson123 · 17/06/2022 06:38

Thanks for your comments - really appreciate it and glad to here we can give the visits a rest. I think I thought it was helpful for conversations about adoption with our older child - as it brought the topic up and helped them to understand it a bit more but ultimately - they don’t really care right now. We always talk about how they were in FC before adoption and so I guess if they want to see them again they can just ask…!

ultimately me not wanting to go is also just finding that life is too busy to be making a long journey to see someone they don’t really want to…. Especially when I just paid £100 to fill up the car after the journeys…!!

OP posts:
mumof2many1943 · 20/06/2022 15:39

Your post has brought back memories our eldest DS's Foster carers were awful, they wanted to keep him and were obstructive during introduction. After placement they would turn up at our house and demand to see him saying they had "rights". Fortunately SS banned them from seeing DS.
Most Foster carers are fantastic all our others were brilliant but I do wonder if it is in the child's best interest.

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