Another View of Foster Care

I won't pretend to know much about the fostering world as I've never fostered a child. I've never even had a front row seat to fostering, but I have seen some very lovely people open their homes and share their journey (as much as possible) on social media. There are a lot of rules and guidelines put in place for the safety of the children, so I know that even when someone has been "open" about their fostering story, there's still a ton they haven't been able to say.

Charlotte had a precious little girl placed in her class mid school year who happens to be in foster care. She has become the very best of friends with this little girl and even their teacher says those two are inseparable in class. I'm becoming friends with the foster Mom and they are all-around a very precious family. Charlotte has invited her "best friend" to her upcoming birthday party, but there's a chance this little girl will no longer be in her current placement, which means she might not get to come.

My heart hurts already. I hurt because while this little girl will be going to live with her Grandmother as soon as all the custody papers and court processes can happen, it will be yet another adjustment for her. It's very unlikely she would continue in (our) school. She'll leave the foster home she has grown to feel safe in, the school that is part of her routine, the friends she has been bonding with. She will be leaving Charlotte. My heart hurts so much for Charlotte already because I know she won't understand. She will say good bye very soon and that will be the end of their best friendship. As I processed the pain I know is coming for Charlotte, my Mommy heart really began to ache even more for sweet little "A." Her world is about to turn upside down yet again and while she is going to live with family (which is a good thing!) it will likely take time to adjust and will bring even more pain and hurt into her little heart as she once again says goodbye to people she loves and the routine she knows.

I know that in comparison, Charlotte's future hurt is very minor in the grand scheme of foster children, but I'm seeing a new side of fostering that I hadn't seen or thought of before. It doesn't stop with these kids loosing everything they​ know to go somewhere safe. They loose it all - family, routine, friends, then they gain something back - a new family, new routine, new friends only to loose it all again and go somewhere new. It wrecks these kids worlds and the ripple effects will hurt my kid too. My Mommy heart is very heavy for two precious girls today. I'm just grateful that in some small way my Charlotte is able to love on "A" and be the friend she really needs in this season.

I'm already praying that both girls will navigate the upcoming changes with grace and that God will meet their little hearts where they are, and that they would quickly find a new best friends to love.