My husband and I were foster five years. We were blessed to have a wonderful little girl live with us for over two years and her older sister for a year. These children came to us because of their mother’s addiction to drugs. Because of her addiction, the younger child was exposed to drugs during the pregnancy. The older child was exposed to drugs in her living environment as well as hunger and a very chaotic living situation. Even though the young boy lived with us off and on from birth to age four and the older sister for a year, the Department of Family and Children Services felt it was best to reunite the children with the mother. We continued to foster a relationship with the children and their mother. Even though we were happy the children could be with mother, we were sad to see their living conditions. It is evident the children live in an environment that lacks structure and there was limited food. We offer assistance and resources to the family from time to time. However we have resolved that this mother of three must learn to be self-sufficient and parent her children successfully on her own.There are children in the U.S. that are experiencing hunger and chaotic situations do to parents being substance. Recently I saw a news story where children were in the home while parents were creating the drug methadone. I could only image the everyday lives of these children. There home was evidentally not well care for and the parents look as if they had not properly cared for themselves. Children that are in these types of situations usually experience various levels of maltreatment. There can be brain development and cognitive issues from birth. Also, these children may also experience physical or mental abuse that could leave them depressed and withdraw socially. There may also be some learning deficits. It is sad to know children experience such negative things in the very important developmental years of their lives
Vanessa, Thank you so much for sharing about the children that you looked over through foster care. You have such a kind heart to do that, and then continue to help the family out from time to time. When given a chance later in life, I would love to foster or adopt a child to protect them from unhealthy or chaotic living environment. I hate to think that children are not cared for appropriately; it's even worse that the parents were unable to care for themselves. However, it only makes our careers more important; to give these children something to live for. :) Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteVanessa,
ReplyDeleteWe were also foster parents while living in rural Alaska. We had a 10 year old and an 11 month old from two different families. The 10-year-old was exposed to an alcoholic mom and grandma. The 11-month old was exposed to fetal alcohol. Child Protection Services were trying to reunite both children with their biological mothers; both were offered treatment and counseling services through the State of Alaska. Eventually the 10-year-old's grandmother turned her life around and was able to continue raising her granddaughter. We went through a 3-year adoption process of the 11-month old and what a beautiful gift we have received. Even though the first 11-months of her life were filled with chaos, with no stability in her life, we have nurtured and loved her enough to support full cognitive, physical and social development. She blossomed from a little girl who would hide in cupboards in fear to an 8-year-old social butterfly who loves to read and write.
Thank you for sharing your experiences as foster parents. It can be heart breaking and heart warming at the same time; the emotional roller coaster we experience is rewarded when we see how our influence has impacted the child.
Blessings,
Patty Eningowuk