General Chat

Thank-you to all who have helped so far, and especially those kind people who p.m.'ed me.

I will let you all know the outcome.

I'm very happy to hear how positive the experience was for those of you brought up in care - bless you all. xx

I had foster care when I was 16, because my mother couldnt cope with having a young woman in the house and was violent towards me. I was made to feel more welcome than I had ever felt in my own home. They were the only guests apart from family at our wedding.

Hi Harpstrings

Will pm you. xxx

Hi Shimms

I was fostered from 12 years to 18 years of age. The first year in two different places and the last one for 5 years and have never really "left". lol
xxxxx

Hi Helen

I was in Care, fostered too for a while. I have also been a foster carer, loved every minute, always thought of myself as a bridge if that makes sense. Like Our Em, our relationship with SS was excellent. xxx

Harpstrings, my foster family ... although I did not stay with them for more than a few years are still very much part of my life. xxx

I am a Foster carer.. we just have short term respite at the moment due to our own teenagers going through the hormonal stage.. and exams etc..
Its been like Clapham junction here the past few months.. its not just our teenagers that are hormonal ..lol
Seriously though, we absolutely love doing this, and for every bad press story about Social services, there are hundreds upon hundreds of success stories. The team we deal with are fantastic, and have been 100% supportive and helpfull.

Awww Jean!!!

I am glad to hear that, Tina. I hope you continue to be happy.

I have to say that I am intimidated by the paperwork process. I already work with young children ( I am Montessori trained and still studying in early years education) but feel maybe because we have a nice house and big garden we might be discriminated against? Stupid, isn't it.

Either way, i worry about being dismissed as "middle-class" which I can't help being.

We have space for families of children of different ages, rather than just one child, and I know we could be of some help, but what I hear of social workers really puts me off.

my parents fostered for some years...my sister and I were fully involved with the decision etc. Its something that OH and I would like to do, when our own children are old enough to understand.. I've also worked for an SSD for years, PM me if you'd like to discuss what the approval process would entail.

I was fostered as a child myself and have had a better life and relationship witih my foster parents and their own daughter than my own family. In fact at the age of 52 I am still "their daughter and sister".

:))

Tina xx

After the Baby P case (poor little boy) my son is horrified and saddened to discover they share the name Peter. My Peter is 17. He said last night that we should foster little children to give them a chance, something we have thought about.

Are any of you foster parents?