If I'm honest that I'm mostly motivated to consider fostering because my only child (6) is regularly mentioning her lack of siblings, how she'd love a sibling, how she'd like to look after them (she loves younger kids, loves looking after them) etc. ...would that exclude us from fostering?
(Obviously children needing fostering in our area may not be younger, I'm aware).
Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on fostering.
Fostering
What motivations are acceptable for fostering?
Hamburger233 · 02/11/2023 09:07
Hamburger233 · 02/11/2023 09:07
If I'm honest that I'm mostly motivated to consider fostering because my only child (6) is regularly mentioning her lack of siblings, how she'd love a sibling, how she'd like to look after them (she loves younger kids, loves looking after them) etc. ...would that exclude us from fostering?
(Obviously children needing fostering in our area may not be younger, I'm aware).
AbacusAvocado · 02/11/2023 09:15
My 6 year old desperately wants a pet cat. Talks about it all the time. Spends hours pretending to look after his cuddly toy cats.
I’m not getting him a cat because he is 6, has no idea what looking after a cat would actually involve, would not react well to a cat that was not affectionate or cooperative with his games, and it would not be remotely fair to a cat to bring it into the house because of a 6 year old’s interest which could then change at any moment.
So if it wouldn’t be a good idea for a cat, think how much worse an idea it would be for an actual human child who has already experienced trauma.
Ratfinkstinkypink · 02/11/2023 13:26
I had thought that some issues might not be as relevant if the child is a baby or toddler; though obviously I understand the child may not be that age.
As part of the court process the baby will most likely go and see birth family up to 4 times a week for an hour or more, they often come home confused and upset. That confusion and upset multiplies when a toddler has family time. Even babies and toddlers come with their own traumas, fostering a child is a completely dynamic to having a birth child. have you factored in to your thoughts the fact that almost every time you move a fostered child on it is like a bereavement?
Bobtheamazinggingerdog · 02/11/2023 09:13
Fostering wouldn't be providing a sibling for your DD. These children have a lot of needs and their needs will have to be paramount. They can't be brought into your home to meet a need of your DD.
PinkRoses1245 · 02/11/2023 13:37
This. They won't a sibling. And actually could be worse, if she gets attached and then they leave. Could you consider adopting?
Bobtheamazinggingerdog · 02/11/2023 09:13
Fostering wouldn't be providing a sibling for your DD. These children have a lot of needs and their needs will have to be paramount. They can't be brought into your home to meet a need of your DD.
Hamburger233 · 02/11/2023 13:44
I certainly would be open to it.
My thinking was that fostering might be a half way house.
Maybe that's a totally fallacy.
PinkRoses1245 · 02/11/2023 13:37
This. They won't a sibling. And actually could be worse, if she gets attached and then they leave. Could you consider adopting?
Bobtheamazinggingerdog · 02/11/2023 09:13
Fostering wouldn't be providing a sibling for your DD. These children have a lot of needs and their needs will have to be paramount. They can't be brought into your home to meet a need of your DD.
Hamburger233 · 02/11/2023 13:32
What happens if your daughter and the foster child don't get on or she loses interest? You won't be able to just end a placement on that basis
Clearly, from reading on here, placements break down, so people must end them early; presumably? No-one intends that, obviously.
May I ask how long placements typically are? (There is also "Kids in Kinship" in our region).
Bobtheamazinggingerdog · 02/11/2023 13:51
No, it absolutely isn't. Fostered children by definition don't belong to your family, they have their own family identity and ties and relationships that are likely to always be more important to them than the ones they have with you. Foster care isn't 'adoption lite'
Hamburger233 · 02/11/2023 13:44
I certainly would be open to it.
My thinking was that fostering might be a half way house.
Maybe that's a totally fallacy.
PinkRoses1245 · 02/11/2023 13:37
This. They won't a sibling. And actually could be worse, if she gets attached and then they leave. Could you consider adopting?
Bobtheamazinggingerdog · 02/11/2023 09:13
Fostering wouldn't be providing a sibling for your DD. These children have a lot of needs and their needs will have to be paramount. They can't be brought into your home to meet a need of your DD.
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Bobtheamazinggingerdog · 02/11/2023 13:54
You either take a child whilst care proceedings are going on, which is usually 6-12 months (but can be a lot longer) and at the end you either transition the child back to family, to adoption or to a long term foster placement, or you could explore keeping them in your family too. Or you offer bridging placements where a child will stay with you for weeks/months while they look for a long term placement. Or you offer long term placements yourself. What you need to know about that is those will by definition be older children who are too old to be adopted. They probably wouldn't place a long term child with you who was older than your DD.
Hamburger233 · 02/11/2023 13:32
What happens if your daughter and the foster child don't get on or she loses interest? You won't be able to just end a placement on that basis
Clearly, from reading on here, placements break down, so people must end them early; presumably? No-one intends that, obviously.
May I ask how long placements typically are? (There is also "Kids in Kinship" in our region).
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