To consider fostering

[Adviceplease18]

I am in my 40’s and have a beautiful primary age son. I am single and love solo parenting so another child is not on the agenda. I’ve had fostering in the back of my mind for sometime now. Anyone done it? Regrets? Positive stories? I think we could provide a stable loving environment.
My son loves other kids, he is great with little ones. I know it will change the dynamic but im
seriously considering it. AIBU?

I work with looked after children, and I daily have thoughts about taking them home with me and fostering them all!

like the previous poster (100 children!! Wow!) I’m saddened to read some of the comments on this thread.

Its not an easy role, but there are ways to ease yourself in and see if it’s the right thing for you and your child eg; respite care, short breaks, emergency, short term. You won’t be given a baby and expected to look after them until their 18.
You should also get support through training opportunities and a dedicated supervising social worker who will regularly support you as well as regular educational meetings (and the support of your local virtual school) and child’s social worker. So you won’t be left to it, infact there will be a lot of expectations to prioritise meetings and appointments with the child you’re caring for.

from my experience (and I do work with the children who are really struggling with a lot of emotional and attachment difficulties), I would consider how much love and empathy have you left in your cup after a busy week. Do you have extra to give? I’ve known some amazing foster carers who fight for the kids, advocate hard and love them like their own children.
On the other side, I’ve known foster careers who are just awful and neglectful. Who shouldn’t be carers, but do it for an income top up and social workers are not willing to challenge because the reality is if the foster placement breaks down the child will end up out of area/in residential because of the lack of foster homes. This means SOME foster carers get away with being shit.

One little boy I recently worked with springs to mind. In the 6 years he has been with his foster carer, they’ve not attended a single school event (sports day, assembly, Christmas play) which is so triggering for him. He gets sent to breakfast club, then after school club until 6. Gets home, has his tea and bed. At the weekend he goes to respite so foster carer can spend time with grandchildren.
This is sadly a familiar pattern I see with lots of children in care, it’s heart breaking but there isn’t enough carers with the emotional capacity to meet a vulnerable child’s needs.

Anyways, sorry for the ramble. There’s no harm looking in to it, attending some events and finding out more information. I’ve nothing but admiration for all the lovely foster carers out there.

Op I don't think it's for everyone but if its something you want to do then you can try with some short-term placements and see how you get on.

There is a foster board somewhere that might be able to give you more useful information

Frankly, I'm amazed at some of the responses on here.
Who on this thread knows you so well that they can actually say how it would or wouldn't impact you?
Before we started fostering, most family said it would be a tough thing (no, not a job) to do so we really should consider if we want the 'hassle'.
We opted for the 'hassle' and haven't looked back; steadily increasing the age limit from 0-4 years upto children aged 8 years.
You should go with how you feel, knowing you can pull out at any stage.
Nothing better than trying to give a child a good start in life.
That could be you!
I wish you all the best, whatever you decide