Helen’s Fostering Blog
This is Us
Our Life – Our Story
Hello my name is Helen and I am a 46 year old Foster Carer. Myself and my husband George have been fostering 2 children for 1 year now, in fact we celebrated our 1st Anniversary together as a family this weekend.
Together with the 2 children we foster, my husband also has a daughter from a previous relationship and with one very big fluffy ginger cat this makes-up our life and this is our story.
I would like to start my blog at the very beginning of my journey into fostering, which started when I was in my early 20’s and I had just come back from 12 months travelling.
I was working in an office in London as a Secretary and someone asked me what I wanted to do with my life. I responded that I would love to foster at some point in the future, this was the first time I voiced this but it was probably something I just always knew, but for me it was at this point the idea was born.
Needless to say it has taken me a very long time to put that dream into action but I guess you have to have faith that everything happens as and when it supposed to.
In fact one of the questions I’ve find the most difficult to answer is “what made you want to foster?”
I don’t actually think there is a simply straightforward answer to this all important question, how do you explain it’s just something you always wanted to do. I suppose for me there was a deep, heartfelt desire to want to help those most vulnerable and during probably the most difficult time of their lives. I suppose I also always wanted to do something amazing with my life and for me that was fostering.
My own childhood was idyllic, I was the youngest of 3 children, my own parents were very loving, caring and fun. I was surrounded by a very big extended and close family.
I was lucky ! My parents always had an open door policy at home, often our friends and cousins would find comfort and support through our family and I guess that rubbed off on me as I was growing up and how we need to look out for others and offer help however and whenever we can.
I think it is fair to say my husband’s upbringing was a little different, he came from a more fractured family life and I can see how that has had an affect on who he is, interesting this has made he want to be the best Dad that he can be as he knows how much he missed this in his life growing up.
I don’t know who I would have been if it had not been for the love of family and the joys of childhood, not everyone gets that start.
My hope is that for the children in our care, together with us as a family, the continuing relationship with their own family and the support they receive from the different people involved in their upbringing they might be able to move forward and experience a bright and positive future.
Helen – A Blogging Foster Carer – Working For Children’s Futures
