Fostering...has anyone?

[DetentionGrrrl]

Does anyone have any fostering experiences, especially in Wales? We're thing of fostering next year. How does it fit with your own children? What financial provisions do you get from the Local Authority aswell?

any help?

Genius, thankyou! Would still like to know if anyone has any positive / negative experiences too.

My parents fostered; many years ago now! It didn't bother me at all. My parents made the concious decision to only foster babies and toddlers, so that we were much older, and weren't in any kind of competition with the foster children. They also signed up for short-term fostering only, although that didn't always work out and they were sometimes asked to look after children for longer, if there were unusual circumstances. My brother actively enjoyed having babies around the house, I was less bothered (we were both junior school age, by the way). My Mum and Dad didn't do it for the money, they just felt that it was a good thing to do, and my Mum was getting bored while we were in school and enjoyed having little ones to look after again.

Hi i am a foster parent,have been for 15 years now!!! I have 5 children of my own aged19yrs,18yrs,14yrs,11yrs+6yrs.We live in Bristol,we foster 2 children under 2yrs.I recomend you do not foster children the same ages as your own as this sometimes causes jealosy,its very, very, very hard but that said i LOVE it,as do my family,i also think it makes your own children much better people!!Good luck