Honest feedback on how Fostering affects your life

[Cambam2010]

Please can you give me a no-frills answer as to how fostering affects your life - both the positives and the negatives?

I have worked in an office for the past 10 years, my role will become redundant next summer. I really do not want to go in to another office role and would like something completely different to do.

I am 40, privately rent, live with my partner of 5 years and have a 9 year old son.

I am considering whether I would be suitable to be a foster carer and the impact that this would have on our lives. It is something that I have thought about for a few years and the redundancy is forcing my hand to make future decisions so I would really appreciate any comments that you could offer as to how you have found fostering.

[xxreeldancerxx]

So pleased you are giving it serious thought and not just jumping into it. We have fostered for almost 5 years and it's the hardest job in the world to do .... yet the easiest for others to give an opinion on. As someone has said, it needs to be a 'calling' and not just because you need another job. My children have all left home and I would never have contemplated it whilst they were here. I just couldn't put another child before my own if they all lived together. And I'm afraid that's exactly what some carers need to do at times. It's hard enough saying I can't help my own kids with babysitting etc as I have meetings etc to attend for the foster kids but I do try to work round most things to keep everyone happy. All in all, if you're very careful with matching and your child isn't a jealous type then it "may" just be amazing ... I can, hand on heart, say I absolutely love it 

[Evergreentree]

I was a supervising social worker and the threshold is better than average parents. Birth families are assessed on a good enough parenting threshold. So, the standards are a really good parent role; exposing them to new things, teaching life skills, strong advocacy skills to fight for their rights etc. The foster carers I supervised did an amazing job and I was in constant awe of their determination and resilience. It takes a very special kind of person to be a good Foster Carer and I always thought they were unsung hero’s.