Tuesday's Tears - THIS is why I do foster care

(I wrote this post a while back...)

Foster care and adoption is not always easy.  It's easier than a lot of people think it is - usually the people who say "I couldn't do that".  It's harder than most of us who agree to get involved usually imagine in the beginning (we learn our lesson quickly).  We're at the mercy of the system.  Our kids vacillate from loving to hating us all in a span of minutes (because we're not the birth parents).  We handle strange behaviors and we go to great lengths to try and help kiddos heal knowing full well at any minute they'll be thrust back into the madness that was their birth family's situation that led to the removal in the first place (hopefully, but not guaranteed, in a more healthy environment).  Our core families are considered last (not by us, by the system).

It can be messy and yucky.

But not like this:

These are pictures of the bed of a child who was removed.  I don't know the whole story for this particular child but do know that the bed wasn't the reason for removal and it was probably like this for a period of time prior to removal.

Yes, those are feces.  I don't now where they came from (human or animal).

This bed is located in a closet.  (Again, not the primary reason for removal).

So you see - though we are inconvenienced or have extra work or put to the test by the system that can be frustrating and completely inconsiderate of OUR lives at times, we do it because if we can help one kiddo not have to sleep with feces (and whatever else they face), THAT is worth it.  If I can give "my" kiddos blankets and clean sheets and a decent pillow and a scream-free/drug-free environment, isn't that worth it?

If you haven't already, consider what you can do to help.  This is one child's bed - each child in foster care has a story and YOU have the opportunity to help make their story have a brighter tune and maybe a happy ending.