#fostercareis

Dancin matchies off to school this morn. #fostercareis #momlife #representationmatters

A child can never have too many people loving them! . There's enough love to go around! . #fostercare #fosteradopt #fostercareis #fostadopt #fosterfamily #fosterlove #fostertoadopt #fostercareadoption #fosterkids #fosterkid #fosterchild #thisisfostercare #fosterparents #openadoption

We have a phone call tomorrow, which will hopefully answer some questions about her near future & a forever family. Permanency. What we do know is that a couple families are fighting for her. And goddammit they should. We should all be fighting for her & kids like her, who, through no fault of their own find themselves stuck in a bureaucratic battle & a system set up to be opposite from how kids should be nurtured & loved. • She's always known her time with us was temporary, as we've framed it that way from day one. We take her to adoption parties. We talk about adoption-related stuff & what that looks like for her baby bros, her biggest bro & our hopes for what it will look like for her. It will take time for her to embrace that we will always be her Aunties. That her littlest brothers will always be loved & safe with us & that we will see her & be in touch often & celebrate with she & her family all the milestones which they will invite us to take part. When a family is chosen & the ball is rolling, the transition may be tough, but we stand strong & affirmed that, tho this last year has been very hard on our relationship, our professional lives, financially, & the growth & development of all the kids in our home, she will always know that we loved her, we were invested in her little heart & mind & her growth & helping her to be the strongest, most well-adjusted 8/9 year old she could possibly be. And. Her brothers will also know that she was important & mattered & was so special. She also got lots of practice being in a family. Sharing, eating together, watching out for each other, working through conflict, appropriate boundaries & good hygiene & rituals & routines & love. LOVE. Because that is what a lot of this boils down to. She deserves a life of opportunity & hope & balance & parents who are gonna love every piece of her. The complicated pieces. The trauma history pieces. The developmental pieces. The creative pieces. The nurturing pieces. The athletic pieces. The artist she is. She is all things complex & beautiful & sweet & deserving. She is our biggest kiddo. #thisisfostercare #fostercareis #blackgirlmagic

𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗗𝗨𝗖𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗦𝗘𝗟𝗙! ⁣ ⁣ It’s been a while since we chatted. I’m Penelope and live in the Texas Hill Country just west of Austin. I’ve been a mom to over 25 children over the last decade! 2 are my forever sons. ⁣ ⁣ Make no bones about it - this journey is 𝙏𝙊𝙐𝙂𝙃!⁣ ⁣ I want to encourage those of you who are frustrated and overwhelmed! I understand your pain. I understand firsthand how hard it is to raise children with trauma and attachment challenges. ⁣ ⁣ I’ve put together some incredible free training for you with over a dozen experts. (𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘪𝘰)⁣ ⁣ 𝙉𝙊𝙒 𝙏𝙀𝙇𝙇 𝙈𝙀 𝘼𝘽𝙊𝙐𝙏 𝙔𝙊𝙐! ⁣ ⁣ #fostercarequestions #fostercare #fostercareis #fosterlove #thisisfostercare #gettooattached #adoptionrocks #adoptionjourney #adoptionday #foreverfamily #traumainformed #tbri (at Austin, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTS5Ng8sBgq/?utm_medium=tumblr

A BABY’S SMILE MELTS THE STRESS AWAY! So much going on. The #fosterbaby’s case is in upheaval with a special hearing to move him to a new #fosterfamily that is closer to his parents. Health issues plague the little guy so he needs to see specialists. But that smile brightens any stressful day. What are you stressed about? #fostercare #fostering #fostercareis #fosterlove #fostercarelove #fosterparenting #fostermama #thisisfostercare #gettooattached #fostercareishard #fosterparents #babyboy #babysmiles #crawlingbaby #crawler (at Austin, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CNtP_ezBcpB/?igshid=1tbmgxm7shbnj

You disrupted our life, little one! Our family was in a rhythm - a comfortable rhythm. We could feel our life beginning to normalize in spite of the trauma. But you were just what our family needed!. You may bring a change in our routines, but you bring out flexibility and adaptability. You may be a lot to handle sometimes, but you bring out the caring, nurturing side of us. Some may say: “you are lucky to have us.” But, little one, we say: “WE are blessed to have YOU!” YOU are what WE needed. #fostercare #fostering #fosteradopt #fostercareis #fostadopt #fosterfamily #fosterlove #fostercarelove #fostercareadoption #fostercareawareness #fosterparenting #fosterkids #fosterkid #thisisfostercare #gettooattached #fostercareishard #fosterthefamily #fosterparents https://www.instagram.com/p/CNWFcKkhhrf/?igshid=1ablcdw9dd15t

You have stolen our hearts little one! You are one of us. But the reality is that you are not ours. You are His, and He has a plan for your future. And no matter when that plan has you leaving our family, you will take a piece of us with you. We love you so so much!!! #fostercare #fostering #fosteradopt #fostercareis #fostadopt #fosterlove #fostercarelove #fostercareadoption #fosterparenting #fosterkids #fosterkid #thisisfostercare #babyboy #happybaby #babylove #red #gettooattached #fosterbaby #fostercareishard #fosterparents https://www.instagram.com/p/CMTRO61BX5y/?igshid=1erlhj2qrrkg6

DELAYS! Nothing is ever quick in #fostercare. Missing paperwork. Court continuances. Overextended case workers. Relapse. And these delays just keep kids languishing in the system. Postponing permanence for children whose past and future have been so uncertain. After 2 months, and 2 court hearings - absolutely nothing has been decided. Will the child stay here or be moved to another county closer to the parents? No answers. Just waiting. Savoring the moments. Do you see delays in your children’s cases? #fostering #fosteradopt #fostercareis #fostadopt #fosterfamily #fosterlove #fostercarelove #fostercareadoption #fostercareawareness #fostermom #fostermother #fostermama #fosterkids #fosterkid #thisisfostercare #gettooattached #fostercareishard #fostercareisworthit #fosterparents https://www.instagram.com/p/CLvVbMGhpry/?igshid=19gm2aakd82j0