The Best Motivation for a Foster Parent
Why do you want to be a foster parent?
Maybe you are dreaming of the moment a child in need comes to your front door. You can envision them coming inside, running to your open arms, and saying “thank you.” Tears welling up in your eyes as you feel accomplished and proud.
While this idyllic dream is nice, it is simply not realistic. If your motivation to be a foster parent is built around this imaginative scenario, you are going to have a very hard journey ahead of you. The truth is, the child that comes into your care might be angry, overwhelmed, exhausted or most commonly: scared. Thus, the job of a foster care parent is not to be a knight in shining armor, the job is to be a safe place to land for the children in the foster care system.
Therefore, the correct motivation is focused on what is best for the child. It is a desire to provide them the stability and love they deserve through whatever obstacle they are facing. It is a motivation rooted in love, humility, and a willingness to tackle whatever may come your way. Though they probably will not run into your arms and say thank you, the impact you can make with this motivation will enrich their lives and yours.
The staff at Friends of Foster Children strive to empower every person desiring to be a foster parent to adapt the correct motivation! Wherever you are with the decision to foster, we would love to hear from you. For questions, guidance, resources and more, contact Friends of foster children’s foster navigator Danielle: danielle@friendsoffosterchildren.
