To any foster carers out there...

[Acheypain]

Just want to say what a marvellous job you do!
I am a teacher and one of our pupils (who we’ve been raising concerns about since she was 4) has been taken into foster care over the last few weeks.
The child is 9 and to be honest she’s in your face, argumentative with other kids and loud (none of that’s surprising considering the life she’s led so far).
Anyway, what a difference. She’s calmer, quieter, kinder, she has a pink lunchbox AND she’s having her first ever birthday party this year WITH PRESENTS!!

I could cry with happiness for her. Such a massive change in such a short time.

I don’t know how you people do it but you deserve the biggest rewards. You literally change lives. This child didn’t know what a squirrel was as she’s never been to a park. She thought the drink and a biscuit snack her foster carers gave her during the afternoon was her tea and insisted she didn’t need anything else to eat.

Now she’s having a birthday party. You’re just amazing.

Wow that’s so lovely. Feeling pretty sad it’s taken 5 years for social services to remove her. Assuming lockdown created a crisis point? But let’s hope she can stay safe now.
I’ve been considering fostering for a while now. I really want to do it, and I’ll find it so rewarding. But I just don’t think I’ll be able to cope with the ones who have to be sent back to their lives of misery and it’s really holding me back from doing it 😔

I love this.

I am a secondary school teacher and feel exactly the same as you OP.

The difference it can make to a child is quite astounding. The love, care and attention that these children suddenly receive can transform a child even when they are in their teens (if said child is open to the idea)

Well done to all foster parents.

I've seen the difference 1st hand how fostering helps a child, it's in my family and the little ones are treated as one of the family. It makes such a massive difference. And helps them gain trust and build relationships with adults again.

This is so heartening! Thank you for posting!

Lovely! However, more foster carers would aee your post in the Fostering section. Perhaps ask for it to be moved there?

Ooh I didn’t know there was a fostering section. How do I get it moved?

I think you report it by pressing the three little dots in your message.

We're just moving this very lovely thread over to our Fostering topic.

What a lovely heartwarming post

Love this. We've considered fostering for years and have recently decided now's the time to go for it. Researching online I've seen ever so many negative posts re: how difficult it can be, think twice etc... I understand why but it's been disheartening. Really lovely to hear this too, and a real encouragement. Thank you

How lovely to read,I'm going to be a foster carer in a few weeks.

I really second this! I'm a teacher too and have seen what a MASSIVE difference foster careers make. My dream is to take slightly early retirement and foster in the future.

What a lovely positive message. Thank you

What a lovely post during these difficult times for us all - Thank you for posting!

So agree with this.
My dd has a friend who was fostered at 12 - halfway through year 7 - resulting in change of school, area etc.
I don't know much about her previous life to be honest but I know enough to know that it was really bad. She and her sibling were removed for neglect.
Her foster carers are amazing. She's 18 now and is cared for brilliantly. Her life is going to be good and it's pretty much entirely down to them (and her resilience).