Fostering step grandson

[5toomany]

Hi, I have 4 children, 10,8,6 and 4. Since Christmas I have had my husbands grandson living with us, he's 6. His mum, my stepdaughter, is addicted to crack and was neglecting him 😔 He's is really challenging, we are all finding it hard, my kids especially. We have moved him to our children's school, which although more convenient, also means that no one gets a break. Anyone else been through similar?

www.grandparentsplus.org.uk have lots of advice and help for kinship carers

no real experience, but I wanted to say, poor kid has been through a rough start. He will naturally kick off against you as a way of testing boundaries. As you provide consistent and stable love, he will gradually respond. Hang on in there, he is learning to trust you, and learning that you do mean it when you say you care and that your home is now his home.

Thanks for replying. I really want to do the best for him but sometimes I feel like I'm sacrificing 4 children to save 1 😩

What support are you getting from social services? They will try and do whatever is cheapest and most hassle free for them (because their budgets are under huge pressure) - but this is not necessarily what is best for the child and the you.

Call Family Rights Group - link to website as they will give you advice on what help (both financial and practical) you are entitled to.

How long has he been with you?
I would say that you need to expect a tough first year, so if you are still in that year, then you are still in the hardest stage.

Fight for him to get support, and for you to get help. You have to fight hard to get anything, but they would rather give you help than have to find him another foster home